Elaeocarpus dubius

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

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 and the order Oxalidales, it is further categorized into the family Elaeocarpaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is defined by the genus Elaeocarpus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse range of habitats across several key regions in Asia. Within China, its distribution spans the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan areas. Moving towards the Indian Subcontinent, the species can be found specifically in Assam. It also extends into the Indo-China region, where it is documented in Cambodia. Collectively, these locations highlight the widespread presence of Elaeocarpus dubius across various subtropical territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Elaeocarpus dubius is characterized by its classification as a phanerophyte, specifically exhibiting traits consistent with both phanerophyte and nanophanerophyte growth forms, which indicates that its perennating buds are located well above the ground level. This species maintains a consistent vegetative presence through an evergreen deciduousness pattern, ensuring that it retains its foliage throughout the year rather than shedding it seasonally. As a phanerophyte, the plant's structural development is centered around permanent woody tissues that allow it to persist through varying environmental conditions, supporting a stable and long-lived life cycle.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Elaeocarpus dubius is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree. It functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor as an epiphyte, as it maintains a terrestrial habit. Unlike climbing species such as lianas or vines that require external support, this plant is entirely self-supporting in its structural development.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Elaeocarpus dubius is characterized by its utilization of the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a fundamental metabolic process where carbon dioxide is fixed directly into a three-carbon compound during the initial stage of the Calvin cycle. This specific photosynthetic pathway dictates the plant's efficiency in gas exchange and water use, as it relies on the enzyme RuBisCO to facilitate carbon fixation within the mesophyll cells. Consequently, the physiological performance of the species is closely tied to environmental factors such as temperature, light intensity, and moisture availability, which influence the rate of transpiration and the potential for photorespiration inherent to C3 metabolism.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Elaeocarpus dubius is characterized by the development of distinct fruits that vary in size according to specific morphological parameters. These fruits exhibit a measurable range in dimensions, with the smallest recorded fruit length being 1 cm. On average, the fruit length is approximately 1.15 cm, though larger specimens can reach a maximum length of up to 1.3 cm. This variation in fruit size is a key component of the plant's reproductive output and dispersal strategy.

Fruit length max:

1.3 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.15 cm

Fruit length min:

1 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Elaeocarpus dubius has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Cucurbitacin F.

Cucurbitacin F

1. Phytochemistry