elemi

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Manila elemi-tree
• elemi canary-tree
• elemi tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Canarium triandrum
• Canarium polyanthum
• Canarium oliganthum
• Canarium carapifolium
• Pimela luzonica

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Canarium luzonicum, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae within the order Sapindales. Finally, it is a member of the family Burseraceae and falls under the genus Canarium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed within the Malesia botanical region, specifically occurring in the Philippines. Its range also extends into the Northwestern Pacific area. Within this broader region, it can be found inhabiting the Caroline Islands. These specific locations define its natural ecological footprint across the ocean. Consequently, its presence is closely tied to these distinct island environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Canarium luzonicum is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over many years. Throughout its developmental stages, the plant maintains an evergreen habit, ensuring that it retains its foliage year-round rather than undergoing a seasonal shedding of leaves.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Canarium luzonicum is characterized by its stature as a large, woody tree that exhibits a self-supporting growth habit. Reaching an impressive height with a mean measurement of approximately 30 m, the plant develops a robust and permanent structure typical of forest canopy species. As a strictly woody organism, it lacks any climbing tendencies, maintaining a stable, upright growth form throughout its life cycle.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

tree

Plant height mean:

30 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Canarium luzonicum is characterized by its utilization of the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a mechanism common to most tropical woody species where carbon fixation occurs primarily through the enzyme RuBisCO during the Calvin cycle. This metabolic process dictates its energy acquisition and gas exchange patterns, typically favoring environments with moderate light and consistent moisture. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, and instead relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil to fulfill its nutritional requirements for growth and development.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Canarium luzonicum is driven by biotic pollination syndromes, relying heavily on living organisms rather than abiotic factors to facilitate genetic exchange. Specifically, the plant exhibits an insect-mediated pollination mechanism, where various insect species serve as the primary vectors for pollen transfer. The reproductive process is characterized by the absence of self-fertilization, a trait that necessitates cross-pollination to ensure genetic diversity and successful seed development. This dependence on external biotic agents ensures that the plant's life cycle is intricately linked to the presence of its insect pollinators within its ecosystem.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Canarium luzonicum has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Curzerene, LIMONENE.

Curzerene

1. EXCLI journal

LIMONENE

1. EXCLI journal