Asian nakedwood

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Indian snakewood
• beach berrybush
• wild coffee
• latherleaf

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Rhamnus asiatica
• Sageretia splendens
• Ceanothus asiaticus
• Ceanothus capsularis
• Rhamnus splendens
• Trymalium capsulare
• Tralliana scandens
• Pomaderris capsularis
• Tubanthera katapa

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Colubrina asiatica, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is further classified under the order Rosales and the family Rhamnaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Colubrina.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several key regions in Africa and the Indian Ocean. In East Tropical Africa, it can be found inhabiting parts of Kenya and Tanzania. Its presence extends further south into the continent, specifically within Mozambique in South Tropical Africa. Additionally, the species is located within the Western Indian Ocean, appearing on the islands of Aldabra and the Comoros. These diverse locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in various tropical maritime and mainland environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Colubrina asiatica is characterized by its adaptability to diverse coastal and lowland environments, ranging from sea level up to an elevation of 390 m AMSL. This species thrives in distinct ecological niches, including dry forests and halophytic vegetation, which suggests a notable tolerance for saline conditions and moisture-stressed habitats. Furthermore, it is frequently found colonizing dense secondary shrublands and ruderal vegetation, indicating its ability to persist in disturbed sites and transitional landscapes where competitive vegetation is evolving.

Elevational range max:

390 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

dry forest, halophytic vegetation, dense secondary shrub and ruderal vegetation

Life history

The life history of Colubrina asiatica is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a stable presence within its ecosystem. Throughout its existence, the plant maintains an evergreen habit, retaining its foliage year-round rather than undergoing a seasonal shedding of leaves. This continuous leaf presence supports ongoing photosynthetic activity, contributing to its long-term survival and steady growth patterns within its natural habitat.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Colubrina asiatica is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub, typically reaching a mean height of 2 meters, though it can grow up to a maximum of 3 meters. This terrestrial species is non-parasitic, functioning as an independent organism within its habitat. In terms of its structural development, the plant exhibits a scandent shoot orientation and is classified as a self-supporting climber, rather than being an obligate vine or liana. As a purely terrestrial plant, it does not exhibit epiphytic behavior, such as being a hemi-epiphyte, and maintains a stable, self-supporting woody structure.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

2 m

Shoot orientation :

scandent

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Colubrina asiatica is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a carbon fixation process typical of most woody tropical plants that operate under standard atmospheric conditions. Its vegetative structure exhibits specific morphological dimensions, with leaves that typically possess a mean length of 6 cm, ranging from a minimum of 3.5 cm to a maximum of 11.5 cm. The leaf width varies significantly, with a mean width of 2.5 cm, a minimum of 1.5 cm, and a maximum reaching 7 cm. Regarding its water management and nutrient acquisition strategies, the plant does not exhibit succulence, maintaining non-succulent leaf tissues, and it does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nitrogen sources for its metabolic requirements.

Leaf length max:

11.5 cm

Leaf length mean:

6 cm

Leaf length min:

3.5 cm

Leaf width max:

7 cm

Leaf width mean:

2.5 cm

Leaf width min:

1.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Colubrina asiatica is characterized by small, delicate flowers with a length ranging from 0.1 cm to a maximum of 0.2 cm. These flowers develop into small fruits that measure between 0.7 cm and 0.8 cm in length. The fruit structure is dehiscent, facilitating the release of its seeds. The seeds themselves are relatively uniform in mass, with a mean, minimum, and maximum weight of 0.0267 g. In terms of dimensions, the seeds possess a minimum length and width of 4.5 mm, while the length can reach up to 6 mm and the width up to a maximum of 5.5 mm. Regarding its dispersal strategy, the plant exhibits a hydrochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on water to transport its seeds to new locations.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Flower length max:

0.2 cm

Flower length min:

0.1 cm

Fruit length max:

0.8 cm

Fruit length min:

0.7 cm

Seed length max:

6 mm

Seed length min:

4.5 mm

Seed mass mean:

0.0267 g

Seed width max:

5.5 mm

Seed width min:

4.5 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Colubrina asiatica has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Colubrina asiatica has 9 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 3''-O-Acetyl-6''-O-trans-crotonylcolubrin, 3''-O-Acetylcolubrin, Benzoic acid derivative, Colubrin, Jujubogenin.

3''-O-Acetyl-6''-O-trans-crotonylcolubrin

1. Journal of natural products

3''-O-Acetylcolubrin

1. Journal of natural products

Benzoic acid derivative

1. Natural product research

Colubrin

1. Journal of natural products

Jujubogenin

1. Natural product research

Kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside

1. Journal of natural products

RUTIN

1. Journal of natural products

Sesquiterpenoid

1. Natural product research

Steroids

1. Natural product research

Conditions

Colubrina asiatica has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, Plasmodium falciparum.

Cancer

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Natural product research

Plasmodium falciparum

1. Natural product research

Preparations

Colubrina asiatica has 2 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanolic extracts, leaves.

Ethanolic extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Leaves

1. Journal of natural products