Diospyros morrisiana

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across several key regions within Eastern Asia. Its range includes the Southeast portion of China, where it can be found growing in various habitats. Additionally, the species is documented in Japan, specifically spanning across the Nansei-shotto islands. The distribution also extends to the island of Taiwan. Consequently, these locations represent the core geographical footprint of Diospyros morriana.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Diospyros morrisiana is characterized by its specific distribution within montane environments, where it occupies a defined altitudinal niche. This species is primarily found within an elevational range that begins at 1100 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 1450 m AMSL. Within this vertical distribution, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 1275 m AMSL, suggesting a preference for mid-to-high altitude montane ecosystems. This specific elevational stratification indicates that the species is adapted to the particular climatic conditions, such as temperature gradients and moisture availability, that characterize these specific highland zones.

Elevational range max:

1450 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1275 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1100 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Diospyros morrisiana is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the organism to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive buds are elevated on woody stems well above the ground, a structural adaptation that defines its primary life form. While it can be classified under the broader category of nanophanerophyte depending on specific developmental stages or environmental stressors, it predominantly functions as a larger woody plant. Furthermore, this species exhibits a deciduous nature, undergoing a seasonal shedding of its foliage, which plays a critical role in its annual physiological cycles and resource management.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Diospyros morriana is characterized by its stature as a woody tree, typically reaching a mean plant height of approximately 10 m. As a terrestrial species, it grows in non-aquatic environments and maintains an independent life cycle, functioning as a non-parasitic organism. Its structural growth form is strictly self-supporting, meaning it does not function as a liana, vine, or climbing plant, and it remains a terrestrial entity rather than an epiphyte.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Diospyros morriana is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits specific morphological adaptations in its foliage, featuring elliptic leaf forms with entire margins, providing a streamlined surface for gas exchange. Notably, the leaf structure lacks defensive physiological adaptations such as thorns or spines, indicating a different strategy for herbivory deterrence. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil rather than through symbiotic biological nitrogen fixation.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Diospyros morriana is characterized by a specialized reproductive strategy that relies on external biological agents rather than self-pollination, as self-fertilization is notably absent in this species. The plant produces fleshy fruits, which facilitate a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning the seeds are distributed by animals. The seeds themselves vary in size and weight, with a recorded minimum mass of 0.046 g and a maximum mass of 0.17692 g, resulting in an average seed mass of approximately 0.120406667 g. Regarding the physical dimensions of the seeds, they exhibit a highly consistent volume, with both the minimum and maximum recorded values, as well as the mean volume, being precisely 180 mm³.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Seed mass max:

0.17692 g

Seed mass mean:

0.120406667 g

Seed mass min:

0.046 g

Seed volume max:

180 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Diospyros morrisiana has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include betulinic acid.

betulinic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Diospyros morrisiana has 18 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

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Antileukemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antimalarial

1. Dr. Duke

Antimelanomic

1. Dr. Duke