guest-tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• guest-tree
• Guest Tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cattimarus hospitus
• Grewia meyeniana

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Kleinhovia hospita, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Malvales and the family Malvaceae. Its taxonomic identity is further defined by its placement within the genus Kleinhovia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution spanning several distinct regions across Asia and Africa. Within the Western Indian Ocean, it can be found located in the Comoros. Its range extends to Eastern Asia, where it inhabits both Taiwan and the Nansei-shoto islands. In China, the species is specifically recorded in the tropical province of Hainan. Finally, its presence reaches the Indian Subcontinent, specifically within the borders of Bangladesh.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Kleinhovia hospita is defined by its distribution across a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level up to an elevation of 1000 m AMSL. This vertical range suggests the species is capable of inhabiting diverse topographical zones, spanning from lowland coastal or riverine environments to lower montane regions. By occupying this span of 0 to 1000 m AMSL, the plant likely interfaces with varying microclimates, humidity levels, and soil compositions characteristic of these transitional elevational belts.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Kleinhovia hospita is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its life cycle in a single year. This longevity is supported by its evergreen nature, meaning it retains its foliage throughout the year without undergoing a seasonal shedding period.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Kleinhovia hospita is characterized by its substantial stature and robust structural development, typically growing as a woody tree. It reaches a mean plant height of approximately 15 m, with maximum heights extending up to 20 m. As a terrestrial organism, it does not exhibit aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies, nor does it function as an epiphyte, maintaining a terrestrial life habit. The plant is independent in its nutritional requirements, lacking any obligatory or facultative parasitic behavior. Furthermore, its growth habit is classified as self-supporting, distinguishing it from lianas or vines that require external structures for vertical ascent.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Plant height mean:

15 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Kleinhovia hospita is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing the standard Calvin cycle for carbon fixation without the specialized adaptations found in C4 or CAM species. The plant does not exhibit succulence, meaning it lacks specialized fleshy tissues designed for significant water storage, which suggests a physiological reliance on consistent environmental moisture rather than drought-resistant water retention strategies. Furthermore, Kleinhovia hospita is not a nitrogen fixer, indicating that it lacks the symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, thus relying instead on the uptake of nitrogenous compounds directly from the soil.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Kleinovia hospita is characterized by the production of seeds with a highly uniform mass, as both the mean, minimum, and maximum recorded seed mass are consistently 0.0089 g. This specific seed size plays a critical role in its reproductive strategy and movement within its ecosystem. Regarding its dispersal syndrome, the species exhibits a complex and multifaceted approach to spreading its progeny, utilizing various mechanisms including anemochory (wind dispersal), anthropochory (human dispersal), autochory (self-dispersal), endozoochory (dispersal via ingestion by animals), epizoochory (external attachment to animals), hydrochory (water dispersal), myrmecochory (dispersal by ants), and unspecialized zoochory. This diverse range of dispersal syndromes suggests that Kleinovia hospita is highly adaptable, leveraging multiple environmental vectors to ensure successful colonization and genetic distribution.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Seed mass mean:

0.0089 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Kleinhovia hospita 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 leaf.

Leaf

1. Journal of acupuncture and meridian studies

Chemicals

Kleinhovia hospita has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Betulin, Kleinhospitine A, Taraxerone.

Betulin

1. Dr. Duke

Kleinhospitine A

1. Journal of bioenergetics and biomembranes

Taraxerone

1. Journal of natural products

Activities

Kleinhovia hospita has 12 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include AntiHIV, Anticarcinomic, Antifeedant, Antiflu, Antiinflammatory.

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antifeedant

1. Dr. Duke

Antiflu

1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke

Aphidifuge

1. Dr. Duke

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke

Hypolipemic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Kleinhovia hospita has 6 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Plasmodium falciparum, burns, inflammation, liver disease, malaria.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations