Bridelia tomentosa

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several key regions within East and South Asia. In China, its presence is noted in the south-central, southeastern, and Hainan areas. The species can also be found in Eastern Asia, specifically on the island of Taiwan. Furthermore, its range extends into the Indian Subcontinent, where it is documented in Assam. These diverse locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in various subtropical environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Bridelia tomentoosa is defined by its adaptability across diverse altitudinal gradients, allowing it to inhabit various forest types and landscapes. It is typically found within a broad elevational range, spanning from lowland areas at 100 m AMSL to higher montane regions reaching a maximum of 1500 m AMSL. The species thrives most frequently at a mean elevation of approximately 800 m AMSL, suggesting a preference for mid-altitude ecosystems where environmental conditions are most stable for its growth and distribution.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

100 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Bridelia tomentoosa is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its long-term presence within its ecological niche. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated woody stems, while its specific growth habit can also be classified under the nanophanerophyte category depending on its developmental stage and environmental context. The species maintains a consistent foliage profile as an evergreen plant, retaining its leaves throughout the year rather than undergoing a seasonal shedding process.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Bridelia tomentoosa is characterized by a woody growth form that typically manifests as either a tree or a shrub. As a terrestrial and independent organism, it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a self-supporting structure rather than acting as a liana or vine. The plant exhibits significant variability in size, with heights ranging from a minimum of 1 m to a maximum of 18 m, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 8.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

18 m

Plant height mean:

8.5 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Bridelia tomentoza is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating its metabolic reliance on the standard Calvin cycle for carbon fixation. The plant's leaf morphology plays a critical role in its resource management, featuring an ovate leaf form with toothed margins and an absence of both thorns and spines. The foliage exhibits significant dimensional variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 9 cm, maintaining an average length of 6 cm. Similarly, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 1.5 cm and a maximum of 4 cm, resulting in a mean width of 2.75 cm. In terms of leaf mass per area, the plant maintains a consistent Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of approximately 103.03 cm²/g across its minimum, mean, and maximum recorded values, suggesting a specialized leaf structure for light interception and gas exchange. Furthermore, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil-available nitrogen to support its physiological processes.

Leaf form :

ovate

Leaf length max:

9 cm

Leaf length mean:

6 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf margin :

toothed

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

4 cm

Leaf width mean:

2.75 cm

Leaf width min:

1.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) min:

103.0311266 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Bridelia tomentoza is characterized by the production of fleshy fruits that serve as the primary vehicle for seed distribution. These fruits exhibit a varying width, ranging from a minimum of 0.4 cm to a maximum of 0.7 cm, with a mean fruit width of 0.55 cm. Due to their fleshy consistency, the plant utilizes a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on animals to facilitate the movement of its offspring. The seeds contained within these fruits are consistent in size, maintaining a uniform seed volume of 40 mm³, with both the minimum, maximum, and mean values recorded at this measurement.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit width max:

0.7 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.55 cm

Fruit width min:

0.4 cm

Seed volume max:

40 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Bridelia tomentosa has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Toxicology reports