Karmal

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Hargoza

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Dillenia hainanensis
• Colbertia augusta
• Colbertia coromandelina
• Colbertia minor
• Dillenia minor
• Wormia augusta
• Wormia coromandelina
• Dillenia augusta
• Dillenia baillonii
• Dillenia floribunda
• Wormia pentagyna var. augusta

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It further falls under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Dilleniales, specifically within the family Dilleniaceae. Finally, its taxonomic placement is completed by its classification under the genus Dillenia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical range that spans across parts of Asia. In China, it can be found growing in the South-Central regions as well as on Hainan island. Its distribution extends into the Indian Subcontinent, where it is documented in Bangladesh. Furthermore, the species is native to the Assam region within the same subcontinent. Finally, it can also be located throughout the East Himalaya range.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Dillenia pentagyna is characterized by its specific distribution across varying altitudinal gradients within its native habitat. This species thrives within a defined elevational range, typically found at altitudes starting from a minimum of 200 m AMSL and extending up to a maximum of 700 m AMSL. Within this vertical niche, the plant adapts to the specific climatic and soil conditions found in these mid-to-lowland elevations, playing a role in the complex structural dynamics of its forest ecosystem.

Elevational range max:

700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

200 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Dillenia pentagyra is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated structures, specifically existing as both a phanerophyte and a nanophanerophyte depending on its developmental stage and environmental conditions. The plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage periodically as part of its seasonal biological cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Dillenia pentagyna is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree, which typically reaches an average height of 15 m. As a self-supporting organism, it does not function as a climber or a liana, nor does it exhibit any climbing tendencies such as being an obligatory or facultative vine. The plant is strictly terrestrial in its habitat, meaning it is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte. Furthermore, it maintains an independent lifestyle, lacking any parasitic nature, and is defined by its permanent woody structure.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

15 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Dillenia pentagyna is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes and energy production. Its foliar morphology plays a significant role in its metabolic efficiency, featuring leaves that exhibit considerable size variation; the leaf length typically averages around 40 cm, with a minimum recorded length of 20 cm and a maximum reaching up to 60 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width ranges from a minimum of 10 cm to a maximum of 25 cm, providing a substantial surface area for light interception. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on external soil nutrient availability rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria to meet its nitrogen requirements.

Leaf length max:

60 cm

Leaf length mean:

40 cm

Leaf length min:

20 cm

Leaf width max:

25 cm

Leaf width min:

10 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Dillenia pentagyna is characterized by specific morphological dimensions in its floral structures and a highly consistent seed profile. The flowers produced by the plant vary in size, with a recorded length ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 3 cm. Following successful pollination, the plant produces seeds that exhibit a relatively narrow mass distribution. The individual seed mass fluctuates within a precise range, starting from a minimum of 0.0193 g and reaching a maximum of 0.0231 g, with a calculated mean seed mass of 0.0212 g.

Flower length max:

3 cm

Flower length min:

2 cm

Seed mass max:

0.0231 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0212 g

Seed mass min:

0.0193 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Dillenia pentagyna 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 cellular biochemistry

Chemicals

Dillenia pentagyna has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Betulin, Flavonoids, Phenols, SAPONIN, Tannin.

Betulin

1. Dr. Duke

Flavonoids

1. Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy

Phenols

1. Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy

SAPONIN

1. Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy

Tannin

1. Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy

Terpenoids

1. Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy

betulinic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Dillenia pentagyna has 23 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anthelmintic, AntiHIV, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Anticarcinomic.

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiedemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antifeedant

1. Dr. Duke

Antiflu

1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Antileukemic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Dillenia pentagyna has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancers.

Cancers

1. Journal of cellular biochemistry

Preparations

Dillenia pentagyna has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Ethanolic extract of leaf.

Ethanolic extract of leaf

1. Journal of cellular biochemistry