Nepali hog-plum

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Nepali hog-plum

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Spondias axillaris
• Poupartia axillaris

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Sapindales, it falls under the family Anacardiaceae. Its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Choerospondias.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical range across several key regions of East Asia. In China, its distribution is extensive, spanning the South-Central, North-Central, and Southeast territories. It can also be found growing within the high-altitude regions of Tibet. Beyond the mainland, the species extends its reach into the island nation of Japan. Collectively, these areas define the natural habitat where this medicinal species thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Choerospondias axillaris is defined by its adaptation to diverse forest environments across a significant altitudinal gradient. This species thrives within a broad elevational range, establishing itself in habitats starting from as low as 300 m AMSL and extending up to a maximum of 1600 m AMSL. This wide vertical distribution allows the plant to inhabit various ecological niches, from lowland tropical moist forests to subtropical montane ecosystems. Its ability to persist across such a range suggests a high degree of tolerance to varying temperature regimes and moisture availability found throughout these different altitudinal zones.

Elevational range max:

1600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

300 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Choerospondias axillaris is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated woody structures, typically manifesting as a large tree. Its phenology is defined by a deciduous nature, meaning it sheds its foliage seasonally, often in response to environmental changes or colder periods. This combination of a long-lived lifecycle, a phanerophyte life form, and deciduous behavior governs its ecological strategy and seasonal presence within its natural habitat.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Choerospondias axillaris is characterized by its growth form as a large, woody tree, which typically reaches an average height of approximately 15 m. As a terrestrial species, it grows in soil rather than in aquatic or semi-aquatic environments, and it functions as an independent organism without any parasitic behavior. The plant is strictly self-supporting, meaning it does not exhibit climbing habits such as lianas or vines, nor does it function as an epiphyte, maintaining a purely terrestrial life cycle. Its structural integrity is defined by its robust, woody nature, supporting its significant stature within its ecosystem.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

15 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Choerospondias axillaris is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes. The plant's vegetative morphology includes elliptic leaves that feature an entire margin, and it lacks specialized defensive structures such as leaf thorns or leaf spines. In terms of structural composition, the stem exhibits a mean specific density (SSD) of 550 mg/cm³, reflecting its wood density characteristics. Furthermore, Choerospondias axillaris does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nutrients for its nitrogen requirements.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

550 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Choerospondias axillaris is characterized by a specialized biological process involving specific pollination and dispersal mechanisms. The plant relies on bees for pollination, indicating a biotic interaction essential for fertilization. Notably, self-fertilization is absent in this species, necessitating cross-pollination to ensure genetic diversity. The resulting fruits are fleshy in texture, which facilitates a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning they are spread primarily by animals. The seeds produced are relatively substantial, with a mean seed mass of approximately 2.00583 g, ranging from a minimum of 1.61769 g to a maximum of 2.4648 g. Furthermore, the seed volume varies significantly, with a mean volume of 4650 mm³, spanning a range from a minimum of 2000 mm³ to a maximum of 7200 mm³.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Seed mass max:

2.4648 g

Seed mass mean:

2.00583 g

Seed mass min:

1.61769 g

Seed volume max:

7200 mm³

Seed volume mean:

4650 mm³

Seed volume min:

2000 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Choerospondias axillaris has 1 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 fruit.

Fruit

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology
3. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP

Chemicals

Choerospondias axillaris has 21 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, quercetin, BETA-SITOSTEROL, (-)-Catechin, (-)-taxifolin.

Flavonoids

1. Heliyon
2. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

quercetin

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology
3. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

(-)-Catechin

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

(-)-taxifolin

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

3,3'-Di-O-methylellagic acid

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Daucosterol

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Epicatechin

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

Gallic acid

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Lignans

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Choerospondias axillaris has 4 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Anticancer, Antimicrobial, Hypoglycemic.

Antioxidant

1. Heliyon
2. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology

Anticancer

1. Heliyon

Antimicrobial

1. Heliyon

Hypoglycemic

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Medicinal Uses

Choerospondias axillaris has 8 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Hypoglycemic, breast cancer, breast carcinoma, cancer, cardiovascular diseases.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations