Dillenia ovata
Dillenia ovata, commonly known as the Elephant Apple, is a versatile tropical tree native to South and Southeast Asia. Renowned for its large, sour fruit, it holds significant ethnobotanical value. Used extensively in culinary dishes and traditional medicine, it offers potent antioxidant properties and supports digestive health.
- Scientific name: Dillenia ovata
- Family: Dilleniaceae
- Native range: Asia-Tropical
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 Dilleniales, it falls under the family Dilleniaceae. Specifically, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Dillenia, with the species being Dillenia ovata.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Dilleniales | WCVP |
| Family | Dilleniaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Dillenia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Dillenia ovata, is referred to by various common names depending on the language and region. In Malaysia, it is commonly known by the names ms: simpuh beludu and ms: Pokok Simpoh Beludu. In Finland, it is identified as fi: sumatrandillenia, while in Chinese, it is recognized by the names zh: 卵叶五桠果 and zh: 卵形五桠果.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ms | simpuh beludu | Wikidata |
| fi | sumatrandillenia | Wikidata |
| zh | 卵叶五桠果 | Wikidata |
| zh | 卵形五桠果 | Wikidata |
| ms | Pokok Simpoh Beludu | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, Dillenia ovata, is widely distributed across the diverse landscapes of the Indo-China region. Within this geographical area, it can be found growing in the tropical environments of Cambodia. Its presence also extends to the lush territories of Laos and Myanmar. Furthermore, the species is well-established within the borders of Thailand. Finally, its natural range reaches into the forested regions of Vietnam.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Indo-China | Cambodia | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Laos | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Myanmar | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Thailand | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Vietnam | WCVP |
| Malesia | Malaya | WCVP |
| Malesia | Sumatera | WCVP |
Activities
Dillenia ovata has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |