tendu

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• tendu

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Diospyros melanoxylon, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Ericales. Finally, it is a member of the family Ebenaceae and falls under the genus Diospyros.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical range concentrated within the Indian Subcontinent. It is natively distributed across several key regions, including the country of India. Furthermore, its presence is documented within the borders of Bangladesh. The species also extends its natural habitat to include the island of Sri Lanka. Consequently, its distribution is primarily limited to these specific South Asian territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Diospyros melanoxylon is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a phanerophyte, specifically categorized under both phanerophyte and nanophanerophyte classifications, which indicates that its buds and reproductive structures are held high above the ground on woody stems. This species maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that it retains its foliage throughout the year rather than shedding all leaves seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Diospyros melanoxylon is characterized by its stature as a woody tree that reaches a mean height of approximately 20 m. As a self-supporting plant, it exhibits a robust growth form and does not function as a climber, epiphyte, or parasite, operating instead as an independent organism. It is strictly a terrestrial species, lacking any aquatic or semiaquatic adaptations.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

20 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Diospyros melanoxylon is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a mechanism typical of many woody dicotyledonous species where carbon fixation occurs primarily through the Calvin cycle within the mesophyll cells. This metabolic process relies on the enzyme RuBisCO to capture atmospheric carbon dioxide, which is standard for plants operating under non-extreme environmental stresses. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria, such as Rhizobium, required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms; instead, it relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system to satisfy its nutritional requirements.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Diospyros melanoxylon is characterized by the production of fleshy fruits, which serve as the primary vessel for its seeds. The seeds within these fruits exhibit specific morphological dimensions, maintaining a consistent volume with a maximum, minimum, and mean value all recorded at 1000 mm³. In terms of weight, the seeds display a degree of variability, with a minimum mass of 0.8333 g and a maximum mass of 1.3 g, resulting in an overall mean seed mass of 0.995 g.

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Seed mass max:

1.3 g

Seed mass mean:

0.995 g

Seed mass min:

0.8333 g

Seed volume max:

1000 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Diospyros melanoxylon 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 melanoxylon has 25 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

Antidiabetic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antiedemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antifeedant

1. Dr. Duke

Antiflu

1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Diospyros melanoxylon has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, antidiabetic, body weight.

Most Reported Uses