Lagerstroemia speciosa

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Murtughas speciosa
• Munchausia speciosa

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Myrtales, falling into the family Lythraceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Lagerstroemia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several distinct regions. In the Western Indian Ocean, it can be found growing in the Comoros. Its range extends into China, specifically within the South-Central areas. Within the Indian Subcontinent, it is native to Assam and Bangladesh. Finally, it is also documented to inhabit the East Himalaya region.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Lagerstroemia speciosa is characterized by a broad altitudinal adaptability, allowing it to inhabit diverse topographical gradients. It is found across a wide elevational spectrum, ranging from sea level up to a maximum altitude of 1800 m AMSL. With an average elevational range of 1800 m AMSL, the species demonstrates a significant capacity to thrive in both low-lying coastal or riparian areas and higher montane environments, provided the specific moisture and light requirements of its habitat are met.

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Lagerstroemia speciosa is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its buds and primary vegetative structures well above the ground level, typically manifesting as a large, woody tree. Its development follows a deciduous pattern, meaning it undergoes a seasonal shedding of its foliage, a strategy often synchronized with environmental changes or dry periods. This lifecycle of periodic dormancy and regrowth is supported by its robust phanerophyte growth form, which enables it to establish a long-term presence in its native habitat.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Lagerstroemia speciosa is characterized by a woody growth form that primarily manifests as a tree, though it can also exhibit shrub-like qualities. As a self-supporting organism, it does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, and it remains an independent species rather than a parasite. The plant is strictly terrestrial, lacking aquatic or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, it demonstrates significant vertical development, with a recorded maximum height of 15 m and a mean plant height of approximately 31.67 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15 m

Plant height mean:

31.6666666666667 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Lagerstroemia speciosa is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation mechanisms and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits a highly consistent leaf dry matter content (LDMC), with a recorded mean, minimum, and maximum value of 306.8 mg/g, indicating a uniform density of organic matter within its leaf tissue. Furthermore, it does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of nitrogen from the soil rather than through symbiotic nitrogen-fixing relationships.

Leaf dry matter content (LDMC) mean:

306.8 mg/g

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Lagerstroemia speciosa is driven by a biotic pollination syndrome, relying heavily on animal vectors to facilitate fertilization. Specifically, the plant utilizes insect pollination, with bees playing a significant role in the transfer of pollen. Following successful pollination, the plant develops characteristic fruits that vary in size, with an average fruit length of 2.9 cm, ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 3.8 cm. These fruits contain seeds that are notably lightweight, characterized by a mean seed mass of 0.008605 g. The individual seed mass fluctuates within a narrow range, with the smallest seeds weighing approximately 0.0038 g and the largest reaching a maximum of 0.0116 g.

Fruit length max:

3.8 cm

Fruit length mean:

2.9 cm

Fruit length min:

2 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.0116 g

Seed mass mean:

0.008605 g

Seed mass min:

0.0038 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Lagerstroemia speciosa has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root.

Leaf

1. Nutrition and cancer

Root

1. Ancient science of life

Chemicals

Lagerstroemia speciosa has 20 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Corosolic acid, Maslinic acid, 2,3-Oxidosqualene, Colosolic acid, Cycloartenol.

Corosolic acid

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Biomedical research (Tokyo, Japan)
3. Environmental toxicology
4. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
5. Plant cell reports

Maslinic acid

1. The New phytologist
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

2,3-Oxidosqualene

1. The New phytologist

Colosolic acid

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Cycloartenol

1. The New phytologist

Flavonoid

1. Journal of invertebrate pathology

Flavonoids

1. Journal of invertebrate pathology

Gallic acid

1. Environmental toxicology

Lupeol

1. The New phytologist

OLEANOLIC ACID

1. The New phytologist

Activities

Lagerstroemia speciosa has 6 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Diuretic, Free-Radical Scavenging, Hepatoprotective.

Antibacterial

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Antioxidant

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Diuretic

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Free-Radical Scavenging

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Hepatoprotective

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Hypoglycemic

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Conditions

Lagerstroemia speciosa has 18 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include hyperglycemia, obesity, type 2 diabetes, Blood Pressure, Staphylococcus aureus.

Hyperglycemia

1. European review for medical and pharmacological sciences
2. The Journal of nutrition

Obesity

1. Environmental toxicology
2. The Journal of nutrition

Type 2 diabetes

1. Biomedical research (Tokyo, Japan)
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Blood pressure

1. BioMed research international

Staphylococcus aureus

1. Journal of applied microbiology

Antidiabetic

1. Journal of applied microbiology

Antioxidant

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Blood clots

1. Ancient science of life

Diabetes mellitus

1. Plant cell reports

Diabetic complications

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Preparations

Lagerstroemia speciosa has 7 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts, Ethanolic Extract, Hexane and dichloromethane extracts, Water extracts, herbal extracts.

Extracts

1. Medicinal chemistry (Shariqah (United Arab Emirates))
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
3. International journal of oncology

Ethanolic extract

1. Nutrition and cancer

Hexane and dichloromethane extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Water extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Herbal extracts

1. Journal of invertebrate pathology

Methanolic extract of lagerstroemia speciosa (lse)

1. European review for medical and pharmacological sciences

Root extracts

1. Ancient science of life