Clammy Cherry

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Clammy Cherry
• Indian-cherry
• clammy-cherry
• cordia-tree
• glueberry-tree
• lassora
• sebesten
• Glue berry
• Gunda

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lithocardium suaveolens
• Lithocardium griffithii
• Sebestena indica
• Cordia myxa var. ixiocarpa
• Gerascanthus dichotomus
• Cordia blancoi var. mollis
• Cordia loureiroi
• Cordia obliqua
• Cordia obliqua var. wallichii
• Cordia premnifolia
• Cordia suaveolens
• Cordia subdentata
• Cordia brownii
• Cordia griffithii
• Cordia indica
• Cordia ixiocarpa
• Varronia integerrima
• Varronia sinensis
• Lithocardium platyphyllum
• Lithocardium subdentatum
• Lithocardium tremulum
• Cordia blancoi
• Cordia tremula
• Cordia wallichii
• Cordia dichotoma var. brunnea

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Cordia dichotoma, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Boraginales and the family Boraginaceae. Finally, it is placed within the genus Cordia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse range of locations across East and Southeast Asia. Within China, its presence is noted in the South-Central and Southeast regions. It can also be found growing in the high-altitude areas of Tibet. The species extends its reach to the Nansei-shotto islands in Eastern Asia. Additionally, the distribution includes the island of Taiwan.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cordia dichotoma is characterized by its adaptability to diverse environments, thriving primarily within dry forests, halophytic vegetation, dense secondary shrublands, and ruderal vegetation. This species demonstrates a broad altitudinal distribution, occupying a significant vertical range within its ecosystem. It is typically found at elevations starting from a minimum of 300 m AMSL, reaching a mean elevation of approximately 1100 m AMSL, and extending to a maximum altitude of 1900 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1900 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1100 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

300 m AMSL

Habitat :

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

Life history

The life history of Cordia dichotoma is characterized by its nature as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. Its phenological cycle is further defined by its deciduousness, as the plant sheds its foliage periodically, typically in response to seasonal changes or moisture availability. This combination of a long-lived perennial lifecycle and a deciduous growth habit dictates its patterns of seasonal dormancy and regeneration.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cordia dichotoma is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically categorized as a tree. It is a terrestrial, independent plant that does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte. As a self-supporting species, it lacks the climbing habits of vines or lianas, maintaining a sturdy structural integrity. The plant exhibits significant variation in stature, with a minimum height of 3 m, a mean height of approximately 4.75 m, and the potential to reach a maximum height of up to 13 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

13 m

Plant height mean:

4.75 m

Plant height min:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cordia dichotoma is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes and energy production. The vegetative development of the plant is reflected in its leaf morphology, where the leaves exhibit significant dimensional variability. The leaf length typically averages 9.5 cm, ranging from a minimum of 6 cm to a maximum of 13 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width shows a mean value of 6.5 cm, with dimensions spanning from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 9 cm. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the availability of nitrogen within the soil rather than through symbiotic biological nitrogen fixation.

Leaf length max:

13 cm

Leaf length mean:

9.5 cm

Leaf length min:

6 cm

Leaf width max:

9 cm

Leaf width mean:

6.5 cm

Leaf width min:

4 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cordia dichotoma is characterized by the production of fleshy fruits that vary in dimension and seed properties. The fruits exhibit a fleshy texture and typically measure with a mean width of 1.25 cm, ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 1.5 cm in width. Within these fruits, the seeds possess a consistent volume, with both the minimum, mean, and maximum values recorded at 130 mm³. The mass of the seeds also shows specific variability, maintaining a mean seed mass of 0.11871 g, while individual seeds fluctuate between a minimum mass of 0.097 g and a maximum mass of 0.14042 g.

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit width max:

1.5 cm

Fruit width mean:

1.25 cm

Fruit width min:

1 cm

Seed mass max:

0.14042 g

Seed mass mean:

0.11871 g

Seed mass min:

0.097 g

Seed volume max:

130 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cordia dichotoma has 4 reported plant parts identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit, root, stem.

Leaf

1. Frontiers in microbiology
2. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine
3. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society
4. Zhongguo ying yong sheng li xue za zhi = Zhongguo yingyong shenglixue zazhi = Chinese journal of applied physiology
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Fruit

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Journal of natural medicines

Root

1. Frontiers in microbiology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Stem

1. Frontiers in microbiology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Cordia dichotoma has 15 reported phytochemicals identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Tannins, Glycosides, Saponins, Betulin.

Flavonoids

1. Ancient science of life
2. Current topics in medicinal chemistry
3. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Tannins

1. Ancient science of life
2. Current topics in medicinal chemistry
3. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Glycosides

1. Ancient science of life
2. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Saponins

1. Ancient science of life
2. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Betulin

1. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Flavonoid

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Hentricontanol

1. Ancient science of life

Lupeol

1. Ancient science of life

Octacosanol

1. Ancient science of life

Phenols

1. Ancient science of life

Activities

Cordia dichotoma has 7 reported activities identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Analgesic, Anthelmintic, Anticancer, Antimicrobial.

Antioxidant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of natural medicines

Analgesic

1. Pharmacognosy research

Anthelmintic

1. Ancient science of life

Anticancer

1. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Antimicrobial

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antipyretic

1. Pharmacognosy research

Hypolipidemic

1. Journal of natural medicines

Conditions

Cordia dichotoma has 11 reported investigations on conditions identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, Parkinson's disease, antidepressant, antioxidant, carcinogenesis.

Cancer

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine
2. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Parkinson's disease

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Antidepressant

1. Zhongguo ying yong sheng li xue za zhi = Zhongguo yingyong shenglixue zazhi = Chinese journal of applied physiology

Antioxidant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Carcinogenesis

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Fever

1. Pharmacognosy research

Headache

1. Pharmacognosy research

Hyperlipidemia

1. Journal of natural medicines

Jaundice

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Joint pain

1. Pharmacognosy research

Preparations

Cordia dichotoma has 9 reported preparations identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include chloroform extract, ethanolic extract, aqueous extract, aqueous extract from the uneaten pulp of the fruit, bark.

Chloroform extract

1. Current topics in medicinal chemistry
2. Zhongguo ying yong sheng li xue za zhi = Zhongguo yingyong shenglixue zazhi = Chinese journal of applied physiology

Ethanolic extract

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society
2. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Aqueous extract

1. Zhongguo ying yong sheng li xue za zhi = Zhongguo yingyong shenglixue zazhi = Chinese journal of applied physiology

Aqueous extract from the uneaten pulp of the fruit

1. Journal of natural medicines

Bark

1. Folia medica

Ethanol extract

1. Zhongguo ying yong sheng li xue za zhi = Zhongguo yingyong shenglixue zazhi = Chinese journal of applied physiology

Hydroethanolic extract of cordia dichotoma fruits

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Leaves extract

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Methanolic extract

1. Current topics in medicinal chemistry