Scorpionbush

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Fukien-tea
• Philippine-tea
• Fukien tea tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Carmona microphylla
• Ehretia buxifolia var. heterophylla
• Carmona retusa
• Cordia retusa
• Cordia coromandeliana
• Carmona heterophylla
• Ehretia buxifolia
• Ehretia dentata
• Lithothamnus buxioides
• Ehretia monopyrena
• Ehretia heterophylla
• Ehretia coromandeliana

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is positioned in the order Boraginales and the family Boraginaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Ehretia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several key regions in Asia. Within the Arabian Peninsula, its presence is noted throughout the Gulf States. In China, it can be found specifically in Hainan as well as across China Southeast. Its range extends into Eastern Asia, where it inhabits the Nansei-shoto islands. Finally, the species is also distributed throughout Taiwan.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Eretia microphylla is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. As an evergreen plant, it maintains its foliage year-round, providing continuous vegetative cover and photosynthetic activity without the seasonal shedding associated with deciduous varieties.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Eretia microphylla is characterized by a woody growth form, primarily manifesting as a shrub. It functions as a self-supporting plant and is classified as a terrestrial species rather than an epiphyte. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variation in height, ranging from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of 4 meters, with an average plant height of approximately 2.5 meters.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Plant height max:

4 m

Plant height mean:

2.5 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ehratia microphylla is characterized by specific vegetative dimensions and nutrient acquisition strategies. The foliage exhibits a distinct range of leaf morphology, with leaf lengths varying from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a mean of 2.5 cm, reaching a maximum length of 3.5 cm. Complementing this, the leaf width displays a corresponding range, starting from a minimum of 1 cm, maintaining a mean width of 1.5 cm, and expanding to a maximum width of 2 cm. Regarding its metabolic nutrient cycling, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on the soil's available nitrogen reserves rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria to support its physiological processes.

Leaf length max:

3.5 cm

Leaf length mean:

2.5 cm

Leaf length min:

1.5 cm

Leaf width max:

2 cm

Leaf width mean:

1.5 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ehretia microphylla is characterized by the development of small, fleshy fruits that serve as the primary dispersal mechanism for the species. These fruits exhibit specific morphological dimensions, with a recorded minimum fruit width of 0.3 cm and a maximum width reaching up to 0.4 cm. On average, the fruit width measures approximately 0.35 cm, reflecting a consistent size distribution within the population. These small fruits are essential to the plant's life cycle, facilitating the propagation of the species through their structural characteristics.

Fruit width max:

0.4 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.35 cm

Fruit width min:

0.3 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Ehretia microphylla has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root.

Leaf

1. Carcinogenesis
2. Drug development and industrial pharmacy

Root

1. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Ehretia microphylla has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Ehretianone, Sterols.

Ehretianone

1. Journal of natural products

Sterols

1. Journal of natural products

Activities

Ehretia microphylla has 1 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimutagenic.

Antimutagenic

1. Carcinogenesis

Preparations

Ehretia microphylla has 3 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include MeOH extract, ethyl acetate-soluble portion of the MeOH extract, leaves.

Meoh extract

1. Journal of natural products
2. Phytochemistry

Ethyl acetate-soluble portion of the meoh extract

1. Phytochemistry

Leaves

1. Mutation research