Canarium album

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Hearnia balansae
• Pimela alba
• Canarium tonkinense

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Sapindales, it is classified under the family Burseraceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Canarium, specifically the species Canarium album.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated within Eastern Asia. In China, it can be found across the South-Central regions and throughout the Southeast. Additionally, its presence is noted on the island of Hainan. Beyond mainland China, the species extends to the island of Taiwan. Finally, its range includes the neighboring country of Japan.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Canarium album is strictly defined by its altitudinal distribution within its native habitat, occupying specific montane niches. This species thrives within a distinct elevational range that characterizes its preferred environmental conditions. While its presence can be found as low as 300 m AMSL, it predominantly colonizes higher terrains, reaching a mean elevation of 800 m AMSL. The upper limits of its ecological niche are even more pronounced, as the plant is frequently documented at elevations of up to 1300 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

300 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1300 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Canarium album is characterized by its classification as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist in its ecosystem over many years. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated branches, ensuring its survival through its structural growth habit. It functions as an evergreen species, retaining its foliage throughout the year rather than undergoing seasonal shedding. This combination of a long-lived lifecycle, an elevated growth form, and consistent leaf presence defines its biological presence and ecological strategy.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Canarium album is characterized by a robust woody growth form, primarily manifesting as a tree. This species exhibits significant vertical development, with a plant height that typically reaches a mean of 18.75 m, though individual specimens can range from a minimum of 10 m to a maximum height of 25 m. In terms of its structural habit, the plant is classified as self-supporting, distinguishing it from obligatory or facultative climbers such as lianas or vines.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

tree

Plant height max:

25 m

Plant height mean:

18.75 m

Plant height min:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Canarium album is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation efficiency. Its vegetative structure features elliptic leaves with entire margins and is notably devoid of thorns or spines. The leaf morphology exhibits significant variability in dimensions, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 6 cm to a mean of 10 cm, reaching a maximum of 14 cm, while leaf widths fluctuate between a minimum of 2 cm and a maximum of 5.5 cm, maintaining a mean width of 3.75 cm. In terms of structural composition, the plant possesses a stem specific density (SSD) with a mean value of 498 mg/cm³. Furthermore, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying on existing soil nutrient availability for its physiological development.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

14 cm

Leaf length mean:

10 cm

Leaf length min:

6 cm

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

5.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

3.75 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

498 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Canarium album is characterized by specific morphological traits of its fruit and seeds, as well as its pollination strategy. The plant does not exhibit self-fertilization, indicating a reliance on cross-pollination for reproductive success. The resulting fruits are described as fleshy in texture, with lengths typically averaging 3 cm, though they can range from a minimum of 2.5 cm to a maximum of 3.5 cm. The seeds produced within these fruits are consistent in their physical dimensions, maintaining a mean, minimum, and maximum seed mass of 1.554 g. Furthermore, the seed volume is highly uniform, recorded at a consistent 1800 mm³ across its minimum, mean, and maximum measurements.

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

3.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

3 cm

Fruit length min:

2.5 cm

Seed mass mean:

1.554 g

Seed volume max:

1800 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Canarium album has 11 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ellagic acid, 3,3'-Di-O-methylellagic acid, Brevifolin, Esculetin, Flavonoids.

ellagic acid

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
2. Food & function

3,3'-Di-O-methylellagic acid

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Brevifolin

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Esculetin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

HTS

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Hyperin

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Isocorilagin

1. Biochemical and biophysical research communications

Nobiletin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Xanthotoxol

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Canarium album has 6 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include influenza A virus, Influenza Virus, cancer, colon cancer, inflammation.

Influenza a virus

1. Biochemical and biophysical research communications
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Influenza virus

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Cancer

1. Food & function

Colon cancer

1. Food & function

Inflammation

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Influenza

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Canarium album has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extract.

Extract

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin