Beach milkwood

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Madagascar ordeal-bean
• beach milkwood
• dogbane
• dogbone
• grey milkwood
• pink-eyed cerbera
• rubbertree
• sea-mango
• Sea Mango

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Tanghinia veneneflua
• Cerbera tanghin
• Elcana seminuda
• Tanghinia manghas
• Cerbera linnaei
• Tanghinia venenifera
• Cerbera manghas var. acutisperma
• Tabernaemontana obtusifolia
• Cerbera manghas f. luteola
• Odollamia manghas
• Cerbera manghas var. mugfordii
• Odollamia moluca
• Cerbera manghas var. samoensis
• Cerbera odollam var. mugfordii
• Cerbera venenifera

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 within the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Gentianales, falling into the family Apocynaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Cerbera.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread presence across several key regions of the tropical belt. In East Tropical Africa, its distribution can be traced to the nation of Tanzania. It is also extensively found throughout the Western Indian Ocean, including the islands of Madagascar and Mauritius. Furthermore, its range extends to the Comoros and the remote Chagos Archipelago. These various locations highlight the plant's specific ecological niche within the Indian Ocean maritime environment.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cerbera manghas is characterized by its adaptability to diverse coastal and terrestrial environments, ranging from lush rain forests and seasonally dry forests to specialized halophytic vegetation. This species typically thrives in low-lying areas, occupying an elevational range that begins at 30 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 1000 m AMSL. Its ability to inhabit both freshwater-influenced forest ecosystems and saline-rich coastal habitats underscores its robust ecological niche within tropical maritime landscapes.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

30 m AMSL

Habitat :

rain forest, dry forest, halophytic vegetation

Life history

The life history of Cerbera manghas is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, ensuring long-term survival within its coastal habitats. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its reproductive shoots well above the ground, developing a robust structural presence. It exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its foliage throughout the year, providing a consistent canopy. Furthermore, its growth habit can be classified as a nanophanerophyte, reflecting its specific architectural scale and persistence in its ecological niche.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cerbera manghas is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that is entirely independent and lacks parasitic tendencies. As a terrestrial species, it is not aquatic or epiphytic, instead functioning as a self-supporting organism rather than a climber, liana, or vine. The plant exhibits a significant stature, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 4 meters to a maximum of 20 meters, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 13 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Plant height mean:

13 m

Plant height min:

4 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cerbera manghas is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant does not exhibit succulence, nor does it function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on established soil nutrient cycles. Its foliage displays significant morphological variability in size; the leaves typically maintain a mean length of 21.5 cm, with dimensions ranging from a minimum of 6 cm to a maximum of 37 cm. Similarly, the leaf width shows considerable diversity, with a mean width of 5.05 cm, a minimum of 2.3 cm, and a maximum width reaching up to 23 cm.

Leaf length max:

37 cm

Leaf length mean:

21.5 cm

Leaf length min:

6 cm

Leaf width max:

23 cm

Leaf width mean:

5.05 cm

Leaf width min:

2.3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cerbera manghas is characterized by a distinct flowering and fruiting process. The plant produces inflorescences that vary in length, ranging from a minimum of 0.15 m to a maximum of 0.6 m. These inflorescences bear flowers that are specifically red in colour. Following pollination, the plant develops fleshy fruits that exhibit significant morphological variation; the fruit length typically ranges from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 10 cm, with an average length of 6.25 cm, while the fruit width varies between a minimum of 6 cm and a maximum of 8 cm. Within these fruits, the seeds are produced with a minimum length of 6 mm and a maximum length of 7 mm, reaching a maximum width of 30 mm. The dispersal of these seeds follows a hydrochorous syndrome, meaning they are specialized for dispersal via water currents.

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Flower colour :

red

Fruit length max:

10 cm

Fruit length mean:

6.25 cm

Fruit length min:

5 cm

Fruit width max:

8 cm

Fruit width min:

6 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.6 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.15 m

Seed length max:

7 mm

Seed length min:

6 mm

Seed width max:

30 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cerbera manghas has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Root

1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters

Chemicals

Cerbera manghas has 16 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 2,4-Dihydroxy-6-methylbenzoic acid, 3-O-methylfunicone, 5-methylbenzene-1,3-diol, Acetyl-tanghinin, Cardiac Glycosides.

2,4-Dihydroxy-6-methylbenzoic acid

1. Journal of natural products

3-O-methylfunicone

1. Journal of natural products

5-methylbenzene-1,3-diol

1. Journal of natural products

Acetyl-tanghinin

1. Archives internationales de pharmacodynamie et de therapie

Cardiac Glycosides

1. Journal of biosciences

Cerberin

1. Environmental science and pollution research international

Flavonoids

1. Journal of biosciences

Iridoids

1. Journal of biosciences

Lignans

1. Journal of biosciences

Penicidone D

1. Journal of natural products

Activities

Cerbera manghas has 12 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Anticancer, Antioxidant, Cardiotonic, Anticonvulsant.

Analgesic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Journal of biosciences

Anticancer

1. Environmental science and pollution research international
2. Journal of biosciences

Antioxidant

1. Environmental science and pollution research international
2. Journal of biosciences

Cardiotonic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Journal of biosciences

Anticonvulsant

1. Journal of biosciences

Antiestrogenic

1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters

Antimicrobial

1. Journal of biosciences

Antiproliferative

1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters

Cardiotoxic

1. Environmental science and pollution research international

Hypotensive

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Cerbera manghas has 11 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include analgesic, cardiotonic, anticonvulsant, antioxidant, burns.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations