Drypetes littoralis

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Drypetes yamadae
• Drypetes mindorensis
• Drypetes falcata var. yamadae
• Cyclostemon littoralis
• Cyclostemon yamadae
• Cyclostemon mindorensis

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Malpighiales and the family Putranjivaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Drypetes, specifically as the species Drypetes littoralis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range across several tropical regions in Asia. Within Eastern Asia, its presence is specifically noted in Taiwan. The species is widely distributed throughout the Malesia region, spanning multiple island groups. Specifically, it can be found in Borneo, Jawa, and the Philippines. Additionally, its habitat extends to the island of Sulawesi.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Drypetes littoralis is characterized by its classification as a phanerophyte, specifically functioning as both a phanerophyte and a nanophanerophyte depending on its specific growth stage and environmental positioning. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its perennating buds well above the soil surface, typically occupying the structural layers of its habitat through woody stems or branches. This life form allows the species to persist through varying seasonal conditions by protecting its vital regenerative tissues in elevated, woody structures. Its developmental trajectory involves establishing a robust, perennial presence that avoids the ephemeral nature of therophytes, instead focusing on long-term structural stability and upward growth.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Drypetes littoralis is characterized by a woody structure, exhibiting a robust and lignified habit. Regarding its growth form, the plant functions as a self-supporting entity, acting as a liana or vine that maintains its own structural integrity without the need for external support. It is categorized as a self-supporting climber, specifically following a self-supporting growth pattern rather than being an obligatory or facultative climber. Furthermore, the species is biologically independent, meaning it does not function as a parasite, and it maintains a terrestrial existence rather than growing as an epiphyte.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiological characteristics of the foliage in Drypetes littoralis are defined by specific morphological dimensions that reflect its vegetative development. The leaves exhibit a structured range of sizes, with a mean leaf length of 8 cm, extending from a minimum of 6 cm to a maximum of 10 cm. Complementing this longitudinal growth, the leaf width shows a mean measurement of 4.25 cm, fluctuating between a minimum width of 3.5 cm and a maximum width of 5 cm. These varying dimensions in both length and width suggest a specialized leaf architecture optimized for its specific environmental interactions and photosynthetic efficiency.

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length mean:

8 cm

Leaf length min:

6 cm

Leaf width max:

5 cm

Leaf width mean:

4.25 cm

Leaf width min:

3.5 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Drypetes littoralis is characterized by the development of fleshy fruits that vary in dimension. The fruit morphology displays specific size ranges, with lengths typically measuring between a minimum of 1.2 cm and a maximum of 1.5 cm, maintaining an average length of approximately 1.35 cm. In terms of width, the fruits range from a minimum of 0.8 cm to a maximum of 1 cm, resulting in a mean width of 0.9 cm. These dimensional variations in the fruit reflect the reproductive output and structural characteristics essential for the dispersal and propagation of the species.

Fruit length max:

1.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.35 cm

Fruit length min:

1.2 cm

Fruit width max:

1 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.9 cm

Fruit width min:

0.8 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Drypetes littoralis has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Amentoflavone, Boehmenan D.

Amentoflavone

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Boehmenan D

1. Journal of natural products