emetic-nut

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• emetic-nut
• Mountain Pomegranate

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Gardenia floribunda
• Solena dumetorum
• Randia floribunda
• Randia dumetorum
• Narega coduva
• Gardenia dumetorum
• Gardenia dumosa
• Gardenia stipularis
• Randia oxypetala
• Randia rottleri
• Randia stipulosa
• Xeromphis retzii
• Xeromphis spinosa
• Randia lachnosiphonium
• Canthium coronatum
• Posoqueria floribunda
• Solena longispina
• Canthium chinense
• Posoqueria dumetorum
• Solena floribunda
• Solena nutans
• Ceriscus malabaricus
• Genipa dumetorum
• Gardenia spinosa
• Randia uniflora

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, specifically classified within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further organized under the order Gentianaales and the family Rubiaceae. Finally, the species is identified by its unique genus, Catunaregam.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning across two major continental regions. In East Tropical Africa, it can be found growing within the territories of Kenya and Tanzania. Its presence also extends significantly into Asia, specifically across various regions of China. Within China, it is documented in the South-Central areas as well as the Southeast regions. Additionally, the species is known to inhabit the tropical island province of Hainan.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Catunaregam spinosa is characterized by its preference for specific riverine forest environments, particularly within the Diani forest of the Tana River region. This species thrives within these riparian ecosystems, occupying a distinct elevational niche that spans from a minimum of 30 m AMSL to a maximum of 700 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

30 m AMSL

Habitat :

(riverine) forest (Diani forest, Tana River)

Life history

The life history of Catunaregam spinosa is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. Its structural development exhibits characteristics of both phanerophyte and nanophanerophyte life forms, indicating a growth habit where the woody stems are held above the ground level. Additionally, the species follows a deciduous pattern, shedding its foliage periodically as part of its seasonal physiological cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Catunaregam spinosa is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically categorized as a tree. It is a terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of its physical structure, it is a self-supporting species rather than a vine or liana, maintaining its own upright stature. The plant exhibits a significant vertical dimension, with its height ranging from a minimum of 1.5 m to a maximum of 4 m, maintaining a mean plant height of approximately 4 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

4 m

Plant height min:

1.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Catunaregam spinosa is characterized by specialized metabolic processes adapted to its specific ecological niche, particularly regarding its nutrient acquisition strategies. In terms of its symbiotic capabilities, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized root nodules containing diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms. Consequently, its physiological reliance on soil nitrogen availability is high, necessitating efficient root systems for the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the substrate. Its metabolic framework is further defined by its structural adaptations, where the physiological energy expenditure is directed toward the development of defensive morphological traits, such as spines, which serve as a mechanism for resource protection and moisture regulation.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Catunaregam spinosa is characterized by a biotic pollination strategy, primarily mediated by insects with a specific reliance on bees to facilitate pollen transfer. The plant produces fruits classified as berries, which are indehiscent, meaning they do not split open at maturity to release their contents. Within these fruits, the seeds exhibit a relatively small mass, with a mean weight of approximately 0.021545 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.01354 g to a maximum of 0.02955 g. Following maturation, the dispersal of the species follows an anemochorous syndrome, utilizing wind currents to distribute its seeds throughout the environment.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Fruit type :

berry

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.02955 g

Seed mass mean:

0.021545 g

Seed mass min:

0.01354 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Catunaregam spinosa has 2 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, leaf.

Fruit

1. Planta medica
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Leaf

1. Saudi medical journal
2. Tropical biomedicine

Chemicals

Catunaregam spinosa has 11 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CHLOROFORM, D-mannitol, Distilled water, ETHYL ACETATE, HEXANE.

CHLOROFORM

1. Tropical biomedicine

D-mannitol

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Distilled water

1. Tropical biomedicine

ETHYL ACETATE

1. Tropical biomedicine

HEXANE

1. Tropical biomedicine

OLEANOLIC ACID

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Randianin

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Saponins

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

ethanol

1. Tropical biomedicine

methanol

1. Tropical biomedicine

Activities

Catunaregam spinosa has 5 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective.

Antibacterial

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antidiabetic

1. Saudi medical journal

Antimicrobial

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antioxidant

1. Saudi medical journal

Hepatoprotective

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Conditions

Catunaregam spinosa has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include epilepsy.

Epilepsy

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Catunaregam spinosa has 4 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Gardenia latifolia extract (GLE), Gardenia latifolia powdered leaves, crude extracts, decoctions.

Gardenia latifolia extract (gle)

1. Saudi medical journal

Gardenia latifolia powdered leaves

1. Saudi medical journal

Crude extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Decoctions

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology