Cinnamomum subavenium

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cinnamomum floribundum
• Cinnamomum validinerve var. poilanei
• Cinnamomum longicarpum
• Cinnamomum cyrtopodum
• Cinnamomum glabrescens
• Cinnamomum chingii
• Cinnamomum borneense
• Cinnamomum bartheifolium
• Cinnamomum randaiense
• Cinnamomum nooteboomii

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Laurales and the family Lauraceae, it is classified under the genus Cinnamomum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across several distinct regions of Asia. In China, its presence is noted throughout both the South-Central and Southeast territories. The species also extends into Eastern Asia, specifically inhabiting the island of Taiwan. Moving toward the Indian Subcontinent, it can be found growing within the borders of Bangladesh. Finally, its range reaches into Indo-China, where it is documented in Cambodia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cinnamomum subavenium is characterized by its specific distribution across varying altitudinal gradients within its native habitat. This species is primarily found in montane or sub-montane environments, occupying a broad elevational range that begins at a minimum of 400 m AMSL. As the terrain ascends, the plant reaches a mean elevation of approximately 750 m AMSL, which likely represents its optimal ecological niche where climatic and soil conditions are most favorable for its growth and medicinal potency. The species demonstrates significant adaptability to different topographic levels, extending its presence up to a maximum elevation of 2300 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2300 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

750 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

400 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Cinnamomum subavenium is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, meaning it persists through multiple growing seasons and maintains its presence in the ecosystem over a long duration. Throughout its existence, the species exhibits an evergreen habit, consistently retaining its foliage and maintaining green leaves year-round rather than shedding them seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cinnamomum subavenium is characterized by a robust woody growth form, functioning primarily as a tree. It exhibits a significant stature, with a mean plant height of approximately 20.67 meters and the potential to reach a maximum height of 30 meters. Unlike climbing species, this plant is classified as self-supporting rather than acting as a liana or vine, and it maintains a terrestrial habit rather than an epiphytic one.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Plant height max:

30 m

Plant height mean:

20.6666666666667 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cinnamomum subavenium is characterized by distinct morphological variations in its foliar structure and a specific metabolic profile regarding nutrient acquisition. The leaf dimensions exhibit significant plasticity, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 13.5 cm, maintaining a mean length of approximately 8.75 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width varies from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 6 cm, contributing to the overall surface area optimized for photosynthetic activity. Regarding its nitrogen metabolism, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil through its root system rather than through symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Leaf length max:

13.5 cm

Leaf length mean:

8.75 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf width max:

6 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cinnamomum subavenium is characterized by small, specialized floral and fruit structures that facilitate its life cycle. The flowering stage produces relatively diminutive flowers, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.3 cm to a maximum of 0.4 cm. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fleshy fruits that are remarkably consistent in size; these fruits maintain a uniform length of 0.7 cm and a consistent width of 0.5 cm. Within these fleshy fruits, the seeds serve as the primary dispersal units, exhibiting a highly standardized morphology. The seeds possess a mean mass of 0.106 g, with no variation between the minimum and maximum recorded mass, and a constant seed volume of 490 mm³. This uniformity in both fruit and seed dimensions suggests a highly stable reproductive output for the species.

Flower length max:

0.4 cm

Flower length min:

0.3 cm

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

0.7 cm

Fruit width max:

0.5 cm

Seed mass mean:

0.106 g

Seed volume max:

490 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cinnamomum subavenium 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 leaf, stem.

Leaf

1. BioMed research international
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Stem

1. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Cinnamomum subavenium has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include SUBAMOLIDE B, Secosubamolide, Secosubamolide A, Subamolide D.

SUBAMOLIDE B

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Secosubamolide

1. Journal of natural products

Secosubamolide A

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Subamolide D

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Activities

Cinnamomum subavenium has 1 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic.

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of natural products
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Conditions

Cinnamomum subavenium has 8 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include abdominal pain, chest pain, colorectal cancer, hernia, inflammation.

Abdominal pain

1. Natural product research

Chest pain

1. Natural product research

Colorectal cancer

1. Journal of natural products

Hernia

1. Natural product research

Inflammation

1. BioMed research international

Nausea

1. Natural product research

Rheumatism

1. Natural product research

Vomiting

1. Natural product research

Preparations

Cinnamomum subavenium has 3 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Stem Bark, leaf oil, leaves.

Stem bark

1. Journal of natural products

Leaf oil

1. BioMed research international

Leaves

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin