Gewa

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• blind-your-eye
• blind-your-eye mangrove
• blind-your-eyes-tree
• blindingtree
• milky mangrove
• river poisontree
• scrub poisontree
• blind your eye
• Gewa

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Excoecaria agallocha var. ovalis
• Excoecaria ovalis
• Excoecaria camettia
• Commia cochinchinensis
• Stillingia agallocha
• Excoecaria agallocha var. camettia
• Excoecaria agallocha var. lancifolia
• Excoecaria agallocha var. orthostichalis

Regional and Traditional Names

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. It is further classified within the order Malpighiales and the family Euphorbiaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement in the genus Excoecaria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several key regions in Eastern and Southern Asia. Within China, its presence is documented in both the Hainan province and the broader China Southeast area. It can also be found throughout the Nansei-shotto islands of Eastern Asia. The geographical range extends to the island of Taiwan, further establishing its presence in the East Asian region. Additionally, its distribution reaches into the Indian Subcontinent, specifically within Bangladesh.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Excoecaria agallocha is fundamentally defined by its specialization within halophytic vegetation, where it thrives in environments characterized by high salinity and periodic tidal influence. As a prominent component of mangrove ecosystems, it is adapted to the harsh, waterlogged conditions of intertidal zones, occupying niches where most terrestrial plants would perish due to osmotic stress. This plant is strategically positioned in the transition zones between the sea and land, demonstrating a robust physiological tolerance to saline soils and fluctuating water levels. Its presence is a key indicator of coastal wetland stability, as it plays a vital role in the nutrient cycling and structural complexity of these specialized saline habitats.

Habitat :

halophytic vegetation

Life history

The life history of Excoecaria agallocha is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over many growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive shoots are elevated well above the ground, a structural trait shared across its different life form classifications within the phanerophyte category. The plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage periodically as part of its seasonal biological cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Excoecaria agallocha is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, which functions as a self-supporting structure rather than a climber or vine. As a terrestrial species, it is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte, maintaining an independent existence without relying on other plants for support or nutrients. The plant exhibits significant variation in size, with its height ranging from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of 10 meters, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 8.75 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

10 m

Plant height mean:

8.75 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Excoecaria agallocha is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. Morphologically, the foliage exhibits significant variability in dimension, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 4 cm to a mean of 7 cm, reaching a maximum of 12 cm. The width of the leaves is similarly varied, spanning from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 5 cm. Regarding water storage and nutrient acquisition strategies, the plant does not exhibit succulence, maintaining standard leaf tissue hydration rather than specialized water-storing structures. Furthermore, it does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nitrogen sources for its nutritional requirements.

Leaf length max:

12 cm

Leaf length mean:

7 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf width max:

5 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Excoecaria agallocha is characterized by a dioecious sexual reproduction system, meaning that self-fertilization is absent. The plant produces dry, capsule-type fruits that are dehiscent in nature. These fruits typically measure between 0.7 cm and 0.8 cm in length, with a mean length of 0.75 cm, and maintain a consistent width of approximately 1 cm. Within these capsules, the seeds exhibit a mean mass of 0.064312 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.015024 g to a maximum of 0.1136 g, and possess a uniform seed volume of 67 mm³. The dispersal of the species follows a hydrochorous syndrome, utilizing water as the primary medium for seed distribution.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

0.8 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.75 cm

Fruit length min:

0.7 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

1 cm

Reproduction sexual :

dioecious

Seed mass max:

0.1136 g

Seed mass mean:

0.064312 g

Seed mass min:

0.015024 g

Seed volume max:

67 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Excoecaria agallocha has 3 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root, stem.

Leaf

1. Journal of natural products
2. Tropical life sciences research
3. Chemotherapy

Root

1. Journal of natural products

Stem

1. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Excoecaria agallocha has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 12-Deoxyphorbol-13-(3E,5E-decadienoate), Flavonoids, Sterols, Terpenoids, triterpenoids.

12-Deoxyphorbol-13-(3E,5E-decadienoate)

1. Journal of natural products

Flavonoids

1. Pharmacognosy reviews

Sterols

1. Pharmacognosy reviews

Terpenoids

1. Biotechnic & histochemistry : official publication of the Biological Stain Commission

triterpenoids

1. Pharmacognosy reviews

Activities

Excoecaria agallocha has 7 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Anticancer, Antidiabetic, Antifilarial, Antimicrobial.

Analgesic

1. Pharmacognosy reviews

Anticancer

1. Pharmacognosy reviews

Antidiabetic

1. Pharmacognosy reviews

Antifilarial

1. Pharmacognosy reviews

Antimicrobial

1. Pharmacognosy reviews

Antioxidant

1. Pharmacognosy reviews

Antiulcer

1. Pharmacognosy reviews

Medicinal Uses

Excoecaria agallocha has 7 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include HIV, Staphylococcus aureus, epilepsy, leprosy, paralysis.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations