Poison Starapple

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Monkey Apple
• Poison Peach
• Monkey Plum
• Monkey-Apple
• Monkey-Plum
• Poison Star-Apple
• Poison Starapple
• Poison-Peach
• Star-Apple

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Royena dichrophylla

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Ericales, it is classified under the family Ebenaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Diospyros, specifically as the species Diospyros dichrophylla.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is found across several key regions within the southern portion of the continent. Its distribution extends into South Tropical Africa, specifically within the country of Mozambique. Within the Southern African region, it is documented in the Cape Provinces and KwaZulu-Natal. Additionally, the species can be located in Esswatini. Finally, its range includes the Northern Provinces of Southern Africa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Diospyros dichrophylla is defined by a broad altitudinal distribution, allowing it to inhabit diverse topographic gradients within its native range. This species thrives across a significant vertical span, ranging from low-lying areas at an elevation of 10 m AMSL to higher montane environments reaching up to a maximum of 1500 m AMSL. This extensive elevational range suggests a high degree of ecological plasticity, enabling the plant to adapt to varying temperature regimes, atmospheric pressures, and moisture levels found between coastal or lowland habitats and mid-elevation montane forests. Such adaptability facilitates its presence in varied microclimates, where it plays a role in the structural and biological composition of its respective ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

10 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Diospyros dichrophylla is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the organism to persist through multiple growing seasons over a long duration. In terms of its structural development and growth habit, the species exhibits a phanerophyte life form, indicating that its buds are borne on aerial shoots well above the ground. Additionally, its biological classification within specific ecological strata includes characteristics of a nanophanerophyte, reflecting its specific height and architectural growth patterns within its habitat.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Diospyros dichrophylla is characterized by its woody structure and growth form as a shrub. It functions as a self-supporting, independent plant, meaning it does not act as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial habit rather than an aquatic or semiaquatic existence. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant vertical growth, with a height ranging from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of 13 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

13 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Diospyros dichrophylla is characterized by specific seed morphological properties that play a critical role in its dispersal and germination strategies. The seeds produced by this species exhibit a measurable range of physical dimensions, with a recorded mean seed mass of 0.189586667 g. Within the studied population, the individual seed mass varies, reaching a maximum value of 0.22852 g and a minimum value of 0.14062 g. This variation in mass suggests a degree of plasticity in resource allocation during seed development, which may influence the success of seedling establishment in its natural habitat.

Seed mass max:

0.22852 g

Seed mass mean:

0.189586667 g

Seed mass min:

0.14062 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Diospyros dichrophylla 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 seed.

Seed

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Chemicals

Diospyros dichrophylla has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ISODIOSPYRIN.

ISODIOSPYRIN

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Preparations

Diospyros dichrophylla has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include organic (CH2Cl2:MeOH) extracts.

Organic (ch2cl2:meoh) extracts

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology