Be-still tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Be-still tree
• Captain Cook tree
• Lucky nut
• Yellow oleander

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Thevetia linearis
• Thevetia longifolia
• Thevetia neriifolia var. hirsuta
• Thevetia neriifolia var. leucantha
• Thevetia neriifolia var. pubescens
• Thevetia peruviana
• Cerbera peruviana
• Thevetia peruviana f. aurantiaca
• Cerbera thevetia
• Cerbera linearifolia
• Cascabela peruviana

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae and order Gentianaales, it is further categorized into the family Apocynaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Cascabela.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning across several continents and regions. In Southeastern Europe, it can be found specifically in Italy. Its range extends to the Macaronesian region, particularly within the Canary Islands. In West Tropical Africa, the species is distributed throughout Gambia and Senegal. Finally, its presence is noted in West-Central Tropical Africa, specifically encompassing the Gulf of Guinea Islands.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cascabela thevetia is characterized by its ability to thrive across a diverse altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1500 m AMSL. It is most commonly found in lowland environments, with a mean elevational range centered around 350 m AMSL. This distribution pattern indicates an adaptability to various tropical and subtropical landscape profiles, typically favoring warmer, lower-altitude habitats while maintaining the capacity to colonize higher terrains within its specified vertical range.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

350 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Genetics

The genetics of Cascabela thevetia are characterized by specific chromosomal configurations and varying genomic complexities. The species exhibits a diverse chromosome number, with documented counts of 18, 20, and 22, reflecting a degree of karyotypic variation within the plant. Regarding its genomic structure, the species is identified as having a ploidy level of 2, indicating that it is a diploid organism.

Chromosome number :

18, 20, 22

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Cascabela thevetia is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a phanerophyte, maintaining its photosynthetic organs on elevated stems, while specifically exhibiting a nanophanerophyte life form in certain growth stages or environments. The plant maintains a consistent foliage profile as an evergreen, ensuring that it retains its leaves throughout the year rather than undergoing seasonal shedding.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cascabela thevetia is characterized by a woody growth form that typically manifests as either a shrub or a tree. As a self-supporting plant, it does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, and it maintains an independent existence rather than acting as a parasite. The species is strictly terrestrial, lacking any aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant vertical development, with a minimum height of 3 m, a mean height of approximately 4.5 m, and a maximum potential height reaching up to 9 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

9 m

Plant height mean:

4.5 m

Plant height min:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cascabela thevetia is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation efficiency. The plant exhibits a non-succulent morphology, lacking specialized water-storage tissues in its foliage. Its leaves are arranged in an alternate pattern along the stem, displaying a linear leaf form. These leaves vary significantly in size, with a minimum length of 6 cm, a mean length of 12.5 cm, and a maximum length reaching up to 15 cm. The leaf width is also quite variable, ranging from a minimum of 0.4 cm to a maximum of 15 cm. Furthermore, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on external soil nitrogen sources rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria to support its physiological growth and development.

Leaf arrangement :

alternate

Leaf form :

linear

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length mean:

12.5 cm

Leaf length min:

6 cm

Leaf width max:

15 cm

Leaf width min:

0.4 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cascabela thevetia is characterized by a flowering period that typically begins in June and concludes in October. During this cycle, the plant produces inflorescences that range in length from 0.05 m to 0.09 m, featuring distinct yellow flowers. Following pollination, the plant develops black, indehiscent drupes. These fruits vary in size, with a width ranging from 3 cm to 4 cm and a maximum length of 2.5 cm. Each fruit contains between 1 and 10 seeds. The seeds themselves are relatively substantial, with a maximum length of 10 mm and a seed mass that ranges from a minimum of 0.385 g to a maximum of 3.43132 g, with a mean mass of approximately 1.90816 g. The dispersal of these seeds is categorized as unspecialized, though it also exhibits anthropochorous characteristics, indicating the influence of human activity in its spread.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

yellow

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Oct

Fruit colour :

black

Fruit length max:

2.5 cm

Fruit type :

drupe

Fruit width max:

4 cm

Fruit width min:

3 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.09 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.05 m

Seed length max:

10 mm

Seed mass max:

3.43132 g

Seed mass mean:

1.90816 g

Seed mass min:

0.385 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

1-10

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cascabela thevetia has 3 reported plant parts identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit, stem.

Leaf

1. Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition
2. ACS omega
3. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine
4. Phytochemistry

Fruit

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Stem

1. Die Pharmazie

Chemicals

Cascabela thevetia has 54 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Cardiac Glycosides, Flavonoids, Apigenin 5-methylether, Arachidic acid, Aucubin.

Cardiac Glycosides

1. The Medical journal of Australia
2. Natural product research
3. Chemistry & biodiversity
4. ACS omega

Flavonoids

1. Natural product research
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

Apigenin 5-methylether

1. Dr. Duke

Arachidic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Aucubin

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke

Betulin

1. Dr. Duke

CATALASE

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Caoutchouc

1. Dr. Duke

Cardenolides

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Cascabela thevetia has 290 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antiviral, Cardiotonic, Cardiotoxic, Cytotoxic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research

Cardiotonic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current pharmaceutical design

Cardiotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Tropical doctor

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research

Diuretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Cascabela thevetia has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cardiac disorders, diuretic.

Cardiac disorders

1. Natural product research

Diuretic

1. Natural product research

Preparations

Cascabela thevetia has 5 reported preparations identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Leaf Powder, crude methanolic extracts, frozen fresh leaves, leaves, stem bark.

Leaf powder

1. ACS omega

Crude methanolic extracts

1. Natural product research

Frozen fresh leaves

1. Phytochemistry

Leaves

1. Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition

Stem bark

1. Die Pharmazie