Diospyros buxifolia

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse natural range stretching across several key regions of Asia. Within the Indian Subcontinent, its presence is noted in both India and Sri Lanka. Moving toward the Indo-China region, the species is also widely distributed. Specifically, it can be found growing in the landscapes of Cambodia and Thailand. Finally, its geographical reach extends further into Vietnam, completing its significant regional footprint.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Diospyros buxifolia is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, ensuring its long-term presence within its ecological niche. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated branches well above the ground level, a structural adaptation that defines its growth habit. This species exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its foliage throughout the year, providing continuous vegetative activity and structural stability. Its biological classification as a phanerophyte is consistently reflected in its life form, emphasizing a robust, woody stature that allows it to persist through various seasonal cycles.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Diospyros buxifolia is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree, reaching significant dimensions in forest ecosystems. It typically attains a mean plant height of 25 m, though it can grow to a maximum height of 35 m. As a terrestrial species, it grows independently from other plants, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. While some members of similar ecological niches may exhibit climbing tendencies, this species is classified as a self-supporting plant, lacking the obligatory or facultative characteristics of a liana or vine.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

35 m

Plant height mean:

25 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Diospyros buxifolia is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. Its morphological physiological traits include leaves with a mean length of 3.1 cm and a mean width of 1.6 cm, contributing to its specific surface area for gas exchange. The leaf anatomy is notably thin, with a mean thickness of 0.01 mm, which influences its transpiration rates and light absorption capabilities. Additionally, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil nutrient availability to meet its nitrogen requirements for protein synthesis and enzymatic functions.

Leaf length mean:

3.1 cm

Leaf thickness mean:

0.01 mm

Leaf width mean:

1.6 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Diospyros buxifolia is characterized by a lack of self-fertilization, indicating that the species relies on cross-pollination mechanisms to ensure genetic diversity. The resulting seeds are notably minute in size, exhibiting a mean length of 1.8 mm. Morphologically, these seeds are quite small, reaching a maximum height of only 0.3 mm and a maximum width of 0.7 mm, which reflects the specialized reproductive biology of the plant.

Seed height max:

0.3 mm

Seed length mean:

1.8 mm

Seed width max:

0.7 mm

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Diospyros buxifolia has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Betulin, betulinic acid.

Betulin

1. Dr. Duke

betulinic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Diospyros buxifolia has 23 reported activities identified across 0 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