Diospyros maingayi

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant is native to the diverse tropical regions of the Malesia botanical zone. Its presence can be found across the large island of Borneo, where it thrives in specific habitats. Additionally, its geographical range extends into the Malay Peninsula, commonly referred to as Malaya. The distribution also encompasses the island of Sumatera, contributing to its regional significance. Collectively, these locations highlight the plant's specific occurrence within the Southeast Asian archipelago.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Diospyros maingayi is characterized by its classification as a phanerophyte, a growth form where the perennating buds are located on aerial branches well above the ground. Within this classification, its developmental strategy aligns with the traits of a phanerophyte (Life_form_1) and specifically functions as a phanerophyte (Life_form_2), indicating a perennial lifecycle where the plant maintains significant woody structures to survive unfavorable seasonal conditions. As a woody species, it focuses its energy on the development of permanent stem tissue that supports its canopy, ensuring that its reproductive and vegetative buds remain protected from surface-level environmental stressors. This life history strategy allows the plant to establish a stable, long-term presence within its ecosystem, utilizing its elevated bud position to facilitate continuous growth and seasonal adaptation.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Diospyros maingayi is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree, reaching a significant maximum plant height of 40 meters. It functions as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic lifestyle, and is classified as a terrestrial plant rather than an epiphyte. While the species exhibits characteristics associated with climbing habits, specifically appearing as a self-supporting liana, vine, or facultative climber, its primary structural identity remains that of a large, woody tree.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

40 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Diospyros maingayi is characterized by a metabolic framework governed by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common trait among many woody dicotyledonous species that facilitates carbon fixation through the direct carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate by the enzyme RuBisCO. This C3 mechanism implies that the plant primarily utilizes the Calvin cycle to convert atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic compounds, typically occurring within the mesophyll cells without the specialized anatomy seen in C4 plants or the nocturnal acid accumulation characteristic of CAM metabolism. As a consequence of this C3 pathway, the plant's physiological efficiency and water-use patterns are closely tied to its stomatal conductance and environmental humidity, as it must balance the intake of CO2 for photosynthesis against the inevitable loss of water vapor through transpiration.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Diospyros maingayi 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 maingayi 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