brown-cedar

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• brown-cedar
• koda
• kodowood
• silky-ash
• wild peach
• Puna

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ehretia thyrsiflora
• Ehretia serrata var. pyrifolia
• Ehretia acuminata var. serrata
• Cordia thyrsiflora
• Ehretia argyi
• Ehretia kantonensis
• Ehretia ovalifolia
• Ehretia onava
• Ehretia serrata
• Ehretia taiwaniana
• Ehretia thyrsiflora var. latifolia
• Ehretia acuminata var. grandifolia
• Ehretia acuminata var. laxiflora
• Ehretia acuminata var. obovata
• Ehretia acuminata var. pilosula
• Ehretia acuminata var. polyantha
• Ehretia acuminata var. pyrifolia
• Ehretia pilosula
• Ehretia polyantha
• Ehretia pyrifolia
• Ehretia serrata var. obovata

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Boraginales and the family Boraginaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Ehrétia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range that spans across both the Indian Ocean and parts of East Asia. In the Western Indian Ocean, it can be found growing in Mauritius and Réunion. Its distribution continues into China, specifically within the South-Central and Southeast regions. Furthermore, the species is documented to occur in Eastern Asia, particularly in Japan. This wide dispersal highlights the plant's adaptability to different tropical and subtropical environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Ehratia acuminata is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a long-term presence in its natural habitat. Throughout its existence, the plant maintains a constant green appearance due to its evergreen nature, ensuring that it retains its foliage year-round rather than undergoing a seasonal shedding process. This combination of a perennial lifecycle and evergreen habit enables the species to maintain continuous photosynthetic activity, contributing to its sustained growth and resilience within its ecological niche.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Eretia acuminata is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree, which can reach a significant plant height ranging from a mean of 15 m to a maximum of 30 m. This species is a terrestrial plant, maintaining an independent existence as it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte. Unlike climbing vines or lianas, it is a self-supporting structure, possessing the necessary woodiness to maintain its stature without the need for external support.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

30 m

Plant height mean:

15 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Eretia acuminata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic efficiency and carbon fixation processes. The vegetative morphology is defined by its leaf dimensions, where individual leaves typically range in length from a minimum of 8 cm to a maximum of 15 cm, and maintain a width varying between 2.5 cm and 5.5 cm. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria necessary to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form, relying instead on available soil nutrients for its nitrogen requirements.

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length min:

8 cm

Leaf width max:

5.5 cm

Leaf width min:

2.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Eretia acuminata is characterized by a flowering period that begins in October and concludes in January, though the timing can remain variable throughout the year. The plant produces a fleshy fruit classified as a drupe, which is notably indehiscent, meaning it does not split open at maturity to release its contents. Within this fruit, the seeds maintain a highly consistent size, with a minimum, maximum, and mean seed volume all measured at exactly 13 mm³.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Flowering time :

Oct

Flowering time :

Jan

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit type :

drupe

Seed volume max:

13 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Ehretia acuminata has 1 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.

Leaf

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Die Pharmazie

Chemicals

Ehretia acuminata has 18 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Araneosol, BETA-SITOSTEROL, Ethyl caffeate, Glycosides, Kampferol.

Araneosol

1. Die Pharmazie

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Ethyl caffeate

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Glycosides

1. Natural product research

Kampferol

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Lignans

1. Natural product research

Methyl rosmarinate

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Saponins

1. Natural product research

Steroids

1. Natural product research

Tannins

1. Natural product research

Medicinal Uses

Ehretia acuminata has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include anti-oxidant, antispasmodic effects, antiviral, wound healing.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations