Cherry Ashok

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Cherry Ashok

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Polyalthia bifaria
• Hubera cerasoides
• Guatteria cerasoides
• Guatteria bifaria
• Unona cerasoides
• Uvaria cerasoides
• Polyalthia crassipetala
• Polyalthia cerasoides

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 and order Magnoliales, it is a member of the family Annonaceae. Finally, it is specifically categorized under the genus Huberantha.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range spanning across various regions of Asia. In China, its presence is noted in the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan areas. Moving toward the Indian Subcontinent, it can be found growing in the state of Assam. Additionally, the species is distributed within the borders of Bangladesh. Together, these locations highlight the specific environmental niches where the plant thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Huberantha cerasoides is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the individual to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive buds are elevated well above the ground on woody stems, a life form strategy that facilitates its survival in its specific ecological niche. This species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage periodically, which often serves as an adaptive mechanism to manage seasonal environmental shifts.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Huberantha cerasoides is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, which reaches an average height of approximately 17.5 m. As a self-supporting organism, it does not exhibit climbing behaviors such as lianas or vines, nor does it function as an epiphyte or a parasite, maintaining an independent life cycle. The plant is strictly terrestrial in its habitat, lacking any aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

17.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Huberantha cerasoides is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a carbon fixation process typical of many tropical woody species. Its foliage displays a morphological range with elliptic leaf forms and entire margins, notably lacking both thorns and spines. The leaf dimensions vary significantly, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 6 cm to a maximum of 19 cm (averaging 12.5 cm), and widths spanning from 2.5 cm to 6 cm. The plant's resource acquisition strategy is reflected in its Specific Leaf Area (SLA), which shows a mean value of approximately 152.67 cm²/g, fluctuating between a minimum of 136.05 cm²/g and a maximum of 169.29 cm²/g. Additionally, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil nutrient availability to support its physiological processes.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

19 cm

Leaf length mean:

12.5 cm

Leaf length min:

6 cm

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

6 cm

Leaf width min:

2.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) max:

169.2907367 cm²/g

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

152.67279205 cm²/g

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) min:

136.0548474 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Huberantha cerasoides is characterized by the development of distinct fruits that serve as the primary vehicle for seed dispersal. These fruits exhibit specific morphological dimensions, typically ranging in length from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 2 cm. On average, the fruit length is measured at approximately 1.75 cm. This consistent size range plays a crucial role in the plant's reproductive cycle, ensuring that the seeds are contained within a structure optimized for survival and eventual propagation within its natural habitat.

Fruit length max:

2 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.75 cm

Fruit length min:

1.5 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Huberantha cerasoides 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 stem, root.

Stem

1. Ancient science of life
2. Journal of natural products

Root

1. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Huberantha cerasoides has 11 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (-)-alpha-Cadinol, Caryophyllene oxide, Codamine, Laudanidine, Laudanosine.

(-)-alpha-Cadinol

1. Journal of natural products

Caryophyllene oxide

1. Journal of natural products

Codamine

1. Journal of natural products

Laudanidine

1. Journal of natural products

Laudanosine

1. Journal of natural products

Octadeca-9,11,13-triynoic Acid

1. Journal of natural products

Polyalthidin

1. Journal of natural products

Reticuline

1. Journal of natural products

Steroids

1. Ancient science of life

alpha-Humulene

1. Journal of natural products

Activities

Huberantha cerasoides has 1 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.

Antioxidant

1. Ancient science of life