Garuga pinnata

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical range spanning parts of East and South Asia. Within China, its presence is noted in both the South-Central and Southeast regions. Moving into the Indian Subcontinent, the species is found in the state of Assam and across the East Himalaya. Additionally, its distribution extends into the neighboring country of Bangladesh. Together, these locations define the natural habitat where this medicinal species thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Garuga pinnata is closely defined by its altitudinal distribution, as it thrives across a diverse range of elevations. The species is typically found at altitudes starting from a minimum of 400 m AMSL, extending up to a maximum of 1370 m AMSL. Throughout its habitat, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 885 m AMSL, reflecting its ability to adapt to varying montane and sub-montane environmental conditions within this vertical gradient.

Elevational range max:

1370 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

885 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

400 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Garuga pinnata is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its presence in the ecosystem over many successive growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive shoots are elevated well above the ground, typically manifesting as a woody tree or large shrub. The plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage periodically as part of its seasonal growth cycle. Within the classification of its life form, it is categorized as a phanerophyte, signifying its structural strategy of maintaining its primary biomass and buds at a significant height above the soil surface.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Garuga pinnata is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that functions as a self-supporting structure rather than a climber or vine. As a terrestrial plant, it maintains an independent lifestyle, meaning it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant vertical development, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 4 meters to a maximum of 10 meters, though it reaches an average height of approximately 11 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

10 m

Plant height mean:

11 m

Plant height min:

4 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Garuga pinnata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic strategy for carbon fixation in many woody species. The plant's foliar morphology exhibits significant variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a mean of 8 cm, reaching a maximum of 11 cm, while leaf widths vary between a minimum of 2 cm and a maximum of 3 cm. Structurally, the plant possesses a stem specific density (SSD) with a mean value of 709 mg/cm³, reflecting its internal tissue density and mechanical properties. Additionally, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nutrient availability for its nitrogen requirements.

Leaf length max:

11 cm

Leaf length mean:

8 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

3 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

709 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Garuga pinnata is characterized by its specific flowering and fruiting structures, beginning with an inflorescence that ranges in length from a minimum of 0.075 m to a maximum of 0.19 m. Once pollination occurs, the plant develops fruits with notable morphological variations; the fruit width typically ranges from a minimum of 1.1 cm to a maximum of 1.8 cm, with an average width of 1.45 cm. Similarly, the fruit length varies from a minimum of 1.1 cm to a maximum of 1.5 cm, maintaining a mean length of 1.3 cm. The reproductive cycle concludes with the production of seeds that exhibit highly consistent mass profiles, with a mean seed mass of approximately 0.185195 g, bounded by a minimum of 0.18519 g and a maximum of 0.1852 g.

Fruit length max:

1.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.3 cm

Fruit length min:

1.1 cm

Fruit width max:

1.8 cm

Fruit width mean:

1.45 cm

Fruit width min:

1.1 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.19 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.075 m

Seed mass max:

0.1852 g

Seed mass mean:

0.185195 g

Seed mass min:

0.18519 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Garuga pinnata has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include stem.

Stem

1. Phytochemistry

Preparations

Garuga pinnata has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include petroleum ether and dichloromethane extracts of the stem bark.

Petroleum ether and dichloromethane extracts of the stem bark

1. Phytochemistry