dragon's-blood-tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• dragon's-blood-tree
• orange milktree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Haemocarpus paniculatus
• Haronga pubescens
• Haronga madagascariensis var. pubescens
• Haronga madagascariensis
• Haronga ovata
• Haronga paniculata
• Haronga paniculata f. oblongifolia
• Haronga paniculata var. oblongifolia
• Harungana paniculata
• Harungana pubescens
• Harungana robynsii
• Psorospermum leonense

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. Within the order Malpighiales, it is classified under the family Hypericaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Harungana.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern concentrated within the West Tropical Africa region. It can be found growing in the territories of Benin and Burkina. The species also inhabits parts of the Gambia and Ghana. Furthermore, its presence extends to the coastal areas of Guinea-Bissau. These locations define the primary geographical range for Harungana madagascariensis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Harungana madagascariensis is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its long-term persistence within its natural habitat. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive buds are located on aerial shoots well above the ground, a structural adaptation that defines its growth habit. This species maintains an evergreen deciduousness, retaining its foliage throughout the year rather than shedding it seasonally. Within the classification of its life form, it is strictly identified as a phanerophyte, relying on its elevated woody structures to thrive across its life cycle.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Harungana madagascariensis is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree. This terrestrial species is a self-supporting plant, functioning independently without being a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of stature, it exhibits significant vertical development, with a minimum height of 3 m and an average height reaching approximately 13.75 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

13.75 m

Plant height min:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Harungana madagascariensis is characterized by its specific metabolic processes and nutrient acquisition strategies within its native ecosystem. Regarding its nitrogen cycle involvement, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer; it lacks the specialized symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria, such as Rhizobium, required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms. Consequently, its physiological reliance is placed on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system. Its metabolic framework supports growth through standard photosynthetic pathways, utilizing light energy to drive the synthesis of organic compounds, while its internal resource management is geared toward survival in its specific environmental niche without the capacity for autonomous nitrogen enrichment of the rhizosphere.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Harungana madagascariensis is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically mediated by insects such as bees. The plant produces fruits classified as drupes, which are fleshy and indehiscent in nature. These fruits possess a mean length and width of 0.35 cm. The seeds produced are relatively small, with a mean mass of approximately 0.005586667 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.00424 g to a maximum of 0.00788 g. The seed volume is consistent at a mean, minimum, and maximum of 5.3 mm³. Dispersal is achieved through a zoochorous strategy, specifically via endozoochory, where the fleshy fruits are likely consumed and dispersed by animals.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length mean:

0.35 cm

Fruit type :

drupe

Fruit width mean:

0.35 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.00788 g

Seed mass mean:

0.005586667 g

Seed mass min:

0.00424 g

Seed volume max:

5.3 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Harungana madagascariensis has 3 reported plant parts identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include stem, leaf, root.

Stem

1. Journal of natural products
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
5. Scientific reports

Leaf

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Journal of natural products
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Root

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Chemicals

Harungana madagascariensis has 12 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Harunganin, betulinic acid, ferruginin A, Flavonoids, Glycosides.

Harunganin

1. Current drug research reviews
2. Journal of natural products

betulinic acid

1. Current drug research reviews
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

ferruginin A

1. Journal of natural products
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Flavonoids

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Glycosides

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Harunganol C

1. Journal of natural products

Kenganthranol A

1. Journal of natural products

MADAGASCIN

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Saponins

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Tannins

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Activities

Harungana madagascariensis has 7 reported activities identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antimalarial, Antimicrobial, Antiplasmodial.

Antibacterial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antifungal

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antimalarial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antimicrobial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antiplasmodial

1. Parasitology international

Antiviral

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Spasmolytic

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Conditions

Harungana madagascariensis has 12 reported investigations on conditions identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include malaria, AIDS, Entamoeba histolytica, Gram-negative bacteria, anemia.

Malaria

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. BioImpacts : BI
4. Parasitology international
5. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Aids

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Entamoeba histolytica

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Gram-negative bacteria

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Anemia

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Fever

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Gastrointestinal disorders

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Hemolytic anemia

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Melanoma

1. Current drug research reviews

Obesity

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Preparations

Harungana madagascariensis has 18 reported preparations identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include stem bark, Aqueous extracts of the leaf, Hexane fraction, aqueous, bark extracted from palm wine by decoction.

Stem bark

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous extracts of the leaf

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Hexane fraction

1. Current drug research reviews

Aqueous

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Bark extracted from palm wine by decoction

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Cold and hot extracts

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Crude extracts

1. Parasitology international

Diethyl ether extract of harungana madagascariensis stem bark

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Extract

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Extracts

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM