Disepalum plagioneurum

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Enicosanthellum plagioneurum
• Uvaria petelotii
• Polyalthia pingpienensis
• Polyalthia plagioneura

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Disepalum plagioneurum, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Magnoliales. It is further classified into the family Annonaceae and falls under the genus Disepalum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated within East and Southeast Asia. In China, its presence is noted across the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan regions. The species also extends into the Indo-China peninsula, specifically inhabiting parts of Laos. Furthermore, it can be found growing within the tropical landscapes of Vietnam. Collectively, these locations define the natural range of Despalum plagioneurum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Dispalum plagioneurum is closely defined by its specific altitudinal distribution within its natural habitat. This species typically occupies mid-elevation zones, maintaining an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 500 m AMSL and extends to a maximum of 1000 m AMSL. Within this vertical corridor, the plant finds its optimal environmental conditions at a mean elevation of approximately 750 m AMSL, suggesting a preference for the specific microclimates, humidity levels, and temperature gradients characteristic of these middle-altitude forest strata.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

750 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

500 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Despalum plagioneurum is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, meaning it maintains its vegetative structures and continues its biological processes over multiple years rather than completing its life cycle in a single season. As a perennial species, it exhibits a sustained growth pattern that allows it to establish a stable presence within its ecological niche, often relying on robust root systems or rhizomatous structures to survive periods of dormancy or unfavorable environmental conditions. This long-term survival strategy enables the plant to accumulate resources over time, facilitating repeated reproductive cycles and ensuring its persistence within its native habitat through various seasonal shifts.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Despalum plagioneurum is characterized by its robust growth form, as it develops as a woody tree. This species exhibits a significant stature, reaching an average plant height of approximately 15 m. Despite its substantial size, its structural habit is described as self-supporting, categorized under both liana and vine-like characteristics that allow it to maintain its upright position without the need for external climbing structures.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

tree

Plant height mean:

15 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Despalum plagioneurum is characterized by significant morphological variability in its foliar structure, which plays a critical role in its metabolic processes and light interception capabilities. The leaf dimensions exhibit a broad range of development, with leaf lengths varying from a minimum of 8 cm to a maximum of 22 cm, maintaining an average length of approximately 15 cm. Complementing this longitudinal variation, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 3 cm and a maximum of 7.5 cm. This plastic architecture in leaf size and surface area suggests a physiological adaptation to varying environmental light intensities and moisture availability, optimizing the plant's photosynthetic efficiency through a dynamic canopy structure.

Leaf length max:

22 cm

Leaf length mean:

15 cm

Leaf length min:

8 cm

Leaf width max:

7.5 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Disepalum plagioneurum culminates in the development of its characteristic fruits, which exhibit specific morphological dimensions essential for identification. The fruits produced by this species typically maintain a relatively uniform, spherical to sub-globose shape, with measured dimensions showing consistent variation. On average, the fruits possess a mean length of 1.25 cm and a mean width of 1.25 cm. The size of these reproductive structures ranges from a minimum of 1 cm in both length and width to a maximum of 1.5 cm in both length and width, reflecting the natural developmental variability within the species.

Fruit length max:

1.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.25 cm

Fruit length min:

1 cm

Fruit width max:

1.5 cm

Fruit width mean:

1.25 cm

Fruit width min:

1 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Disepalum plagioneurum has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem.

Leaf

1. Journal of natural products

Stem

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Disepalum plagioneurum has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 1-(5-hydroxy-7-methoxy-2,2-dimethyl-2h-chromen-6-yl)ethan-1-one, Marcanine A, chromene, plagionicin A.

1-(5-hydroxy-7-methoxy-2,2-dimethyl-2h-chromen-6-yl)ethan-1-one

1. Acta crystallographica. Section E, Structure reports online

Marcanine A

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

chromene

1. Acta crystallographica. Section E, Structure reports online

plagionicin A

1. Journal of natural products