Othalanga

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Sea Mango
• Pong Pong
• Suicide tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Tanghinia lactaria
• Odollamia malabarica
• Cerbera lactaria
• Tanghinia odollam
• Cerbera forsteri

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Cerbera odollam, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Gentianales and the family Apocynaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is within the genus Cerbera.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across various regions of the Indian Subcontinent. Specifically, it can be found growing in India and throughout Bangladesh. Its presence is also noted in the island nation of Sri Lanka. Moving toward the Indo-China region, the species inhabits the Andaman Islands. Additionally, the geographical range extends into Cambodia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Cerbera odollam is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its environment over many years. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated woody stems, while specifically functioning as a nanophanerophyte due to its structural growth habit. The plant exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its foliage throughout the year without undergoing a seasonal shedding period.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cerbera odollam is characterized by its stature as a woody, self-supporting tree that can reach an average height of approximately 10 meters. As a terrestrial plant, it does not exhibit epiphytic or aquatic tendencies, nor does it function as a climber or a parasite, maintaining an independent growth habit. Its structural development is defined by a robust, woody composition, typical of a tree growth form, which allows it to stand firmly in its natural habitat without the need for external support or specialized climbing mechanisms.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cerbera odollam is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation process and metabolic efficiency in varying light conditions. The plant does not exhibit succulence, maintaining a standard leaf and stem structure without specialized water-storage tissues for drought resistance. Furthermore, it is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, relying instead on organic nitrogen uptake from the soil.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cerbera odollam is characterized by diverse dispersal strategies that facilitate its spread across various environments. The plant primarily utilizes a hydrochorous dispersal syndrome, allowing its seeds to be transported effectively by water currents, which is a common trait for species inhabiting coastal or riparian habitats. In addition to this water-based movement, the species also exhibits an endozoochorous dispersal syndrome, where seeds are ingested by animals and subsequently dispersed through their digestive tracts. This combination of hydrochory and endozoochory ensures that the plant can colonize new territories through both aquatic pathways and animal-mediated vectors.

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cerbera odollam has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed, leaf.

Seed

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Acta crystallographica. Section C, Crystal structure communications

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Cerbera odollam has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 3beta-O-(L-2'-O-acetylthevetosyl)-14beta-hydroxy-5beta-card-20(22)-enolide, Cerberin.

3beta-O-(L-2'-O-acetylthevetosyl)-14beta-hydroxy-5beta-card-20(22)-enolide

1. Acta crystallographica. Section C, Crystal structure communications

Cerberin

1. Environmental science and pollution research international

Activities

Cerbera odollam has 5 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antioxidant, Cardiotoxic, Insecticide, Pesticide.

Anticancer

1. Environmental science and pollution research international

Antioxidant

1. Environmental science and pollution research international

Cardiotoxic

1. Environmental science and pollution research international

Insecticide

1. Environmental science and pollution research international

Pesticide

1. Environmental science and pollution research international

Preparations

Cerbera odollam has 1 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include seeds.

Seeds

1. Environmental science and pollution research international
2. Acta crystallographica. Section C, Crystal structure communications