corkwoodtree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• corkwoodtree
• eye-opening-tree
• eyeplant
• hard corkwood
• poison corkwood
• poisonous corkwood
• soft corkwood
• yellow-basswood
• corkwood
• eye opening tree
• yellow basswood

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Myoporum paniculatum
• Entrecasteauxia elliptica

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Solanales and the family Solanaceae, it is specifically classified under the genus Duboisia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is native to several specific regions across the Oceania territory. Within Australia, its natural range includes the coastal areas of New South Wales. It can also be found growing throughout the state of Queensland. Furthermore, the species extends its reach into the Southwestern Pacific. Specifically, it is known to inhabit the island of New Caledonia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Duboisia myoporoides is characterized by its preference for moist, shaded environments, typically flourishing within the complex layers of rain forests and dense secondary shrublands. It is frequently found colonizing ruderal vegetation, where it can exploit disturbed areas and transitional zones between forest edges and open clearings. This ability to thrive in secondary growth suggests a resilient ecological strategy, allowing the species to establish itself in habitats where sunlight may be intermittent but soil moisture remains consistent. By occupying these diverse niches—from stable rainforest interiors to more opportunistic, disturbed sites—the plant plays a role in the structural complexity of its local ecosystem.

Habitat :

rain forest, dense secondary shrub and ruderal vegetation

Life history

The life history of Duboisia myoporoides is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a long-lived woody shrub, it avoids the rapid turnover seen in annuals or biennials, instead focusing its energy on sustained vegetative growth and periodic reproductive cycles. Throughout its lifespan, the plant develops a robust structure that enables it to withstand environmental fluctuations, often establishing deep root systems to support its continuous life cycle. This perennial nature is essential for its ecological stability, as it provides a consistent presence in its natural habitat, transitioning through various stages of maturity while maintaining the capacity for long-term survival and seasonal flowering.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Duboisia myoporoides is characterized by its stature as a woody tree, exhibiting a robust and self-supporting growth form. As a terrestrial species, it grows independently without any parasitic or epiphytic requirements. The plant reaches significant dimensions, with a mean height of approximately 10 meters and the potential to attain a maximum height of up to 20 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Plant height mean:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Duboisia myoporoides is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The vegetative structure is defined by its foliage, where leaves exhibit significant morphological variability in size; individual leaves typically range from a minimum length of 4 cm to a maximum length of 15 cm, with widths spanning from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 4 cm. In terms of nutrient cycling and soil interaction, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the availability of exogenous nitrogen sources within the substrate rather than symbiotic biological nitrogen fixation.

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf width max:

4 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Duboisia myoporoides is characterized by the development of a fruit categorized as a berry, which serves as the primary vessel for seed dispersal. This fruit type is notably indehiscent, meaning it does not spontaneously split open at maturity to release its contents, but instead relies on external factors such as animal consumption or decay to facilitate the release of the seeds.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Fruit type :

berry

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Duboisia myoporoides has 50 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include hyoscyamine, scopolamine, (-)-Hyoscyamine, (-)-Pelletierine, 6-BENZYL AMINO PURINE.

hyoscyamine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant & cell physiology

scopolamine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant & cell physiology

(-)-Hyoscyamine

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Pelletierine

1. Dr. Duke

6-BENZYL AMINO PURINE

1. Plant cell reports

6-Hydroxy hyoscyamine

1. Plant & cell physiology

6-Hydroxyhyoscyamine

1. Dr. Duke

6-benzylamino purine

1. Plant cell reports

6-beta-hydroxyhyoscyamine

1. Dr. Duke

6-methyl-dotriacontane

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Duboisia myoporoides has 195 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticholinergic, Antispasmodic, ANS-Paralytic, ANS-Stimulant, Addictive.

Anticholinergic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant & cell physiology

Antispasmodic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant & cell physiology

ANS-Paralytic

1. Dr. Duke

ANS-Stimulant

1. Dr. Duke

Addictive

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Amnesigenic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Duboisia myoporoides has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include anticholinergic, antispasmodic.

Most Reported Uses