Soft bollygum

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Indian-laurel
• bolly-beech
• brown bolly-gum
• brown bollywood
• brown-beech
• soft bollygum
• Bolly Beech
• Indian Laurel
• Pond Spice

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Bischofia cumingiana
• Malapoenna undulata
• Iozoste chinensis
• Dodecadenia robusta
• Malapoenna macrantha
• Decapenta involucrata
• Tetradenia brideliifolia
• Litsea glutinosa var. normalis
• Tetranthera litoralis
• Litsea glutinosa var. brachyphylla
• Litsea glutinosa var. longifolia
• Litsea geminata
• Tetranthera platyphylla
• Litsea involucrata
• Tetranthera roxburghii
• Litsea multiflora
• Litsea platyphylla
• Tetranthera geminata
• Litsea baracatanensis
• Tetranthera glabraria
• Litsea apetala
• Litsea brideliifolia
• Tetranthera citrifolia
• Lepidadenia wightiana
• Polyadenia grandifolia
• Actinodaphne chinensis
• Pipalia solitaria
• Sebifera glutinosa
• Litsea laurifolia var. roxburghii
• Tetranthera laurifolia var. attenuata
• Litsea glutinosa var. littoralis
• Tetranthera laurifolia var. multiflora
• Litsea glutinosa var. brideliifolia
• Tetranthera laurifolia var. roxburghii
• Litsea sebifera var. brachyphylla
• Litsea involucrata var. fernandezii
• Glabraria litoralis
• Camellia integrifolia
• Litsea glutinosa var. platyphylla
• Litsea sebifera var. longifolia
• Litsea sebifera var. normalis

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. It is further classified within the order Laurales and the family Lauraceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is within the genus Litsea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across several distinct island regions and coastal areas. In Southern Africa, it can be specifically located within the KwaZulu-Natal province. Its presence extends significantly into the Western Indian Ocean, where it is found in the Comoros. Furthermore, the species is established on the island of Mauritius. Finally, its geographical range includes the islands of Réunion and Rodrigues.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Litsea glutinosa is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution that spans a diverse range of montane and lowland environments. This species is capable of thriving from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 2400 m AMSL, demonstrating significant adaptability to varying topographic gradients. On average, the plant is most frequently encountered at a mean elevation of 1200 m AMSL, suggesting a preference for mid-elevation forest ecosystems. This expansive vertical range allows the species to inhabit various microclimates, ranging from the humid conditions of tropical lowlands to the cooler, temperate-influenced zones of higher altitudes.

Elevational range max:

2400 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Litsea glutinosa is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to maintain a consistent presence within its ecological niche over many years. As a phanerophyte, it sustains its photosynthetic organs on elevated woody branches, a growth form that ensures its survival through various seasonal shifts. This plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its foliage throughout the year, providing continuous vegetative activity and stability in its habitat.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Litsea glutinosa is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, which functions as a self-supporting structure rather than a climber or liana. As an independent organism, it does not exhibit parasitic behavior and maintains a terrestrial existence, lacking any epiphytic or aquatic adaptations. The plant's stature is significant, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of 15 meters, maintaining an average height of approximately 12 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15 m

Plant height mean:

12 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Litsea glutinosa is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant's vegetative structure is defined by leaves that typically exhibit a mean length of 8.25 cm, with individual leaves ranging from a minimum of 6.5 cm to a maximum of 10 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width varies significantly, showing a minimum of 5 cm, a mean of 8 cm, and reaching a maximum of 11 cm. The structural integrity of its woody components is reflected in a mean stem specific density (SSD) of 668 mg/cm³, indicating the density of its vascular and supporting tissues. Furthermore, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil nutrient availability rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing mechanisms.

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length mean:

8.25 cm

Leaf length min:

6.5 cm

Leaf width max:

11 cm

Leaf width mean:

8 cm

Leaf width min:

5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

668 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Litsea glutinosa is characterized by the production of fleshy, indehiscent fruits classified as drupes. These fruits typically exhibit a mean diameter of approximately 0.895 cm, with both the mean length and mean width measuring 0.895 cm; however, individual fruit dimensions can range from a minimum of 0.7 cm to a maximum of 0.7 cm in both length and width. The seeds contained within these fleshy drupes are relatively uniform, featuring a consistent seed mass of 0.146 g (covering both the minimum and maximum values) and a stable seed volume of 110 mm³ (representing the minimum, mean, and maximum values). Due to the fleshy nature of the fruit, the plant utilizes a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on animals to aid in the spread of its seeds.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

0.7 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.895 cm

Fruit type :

drupe

Fruit width max:

0.7 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.895 cm

Seed mass mean:

0.146 g

Seed volume max:

110 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Litsea glutinosa has 1 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 leaf.

Leaf

1. Bangladesh Medical Research Council bulletin
2. TheScientificWorldJournal
3. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Chemicals

Litsea glutinosa has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Phenols, Saponins, Sterols, Tannins.

Flavonoids

1. PloS one
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Phenols

1. PloS one

Saponins

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Sterols

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Tannins

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Activities

Litsea glutinosa has 5 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antioxidant, Antipyretic.

Analgesic

1. PloS one

Antibacterial

1. PloS one

Anticancer

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antipyretic

1. PloS one

Conditions

Litsea glutinosa has 10 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, carcinoma, digestive system disorders, fever, insulin resistance.

Cancer

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Carcinoma

1. TheScientificWorldJournal

Digestive system disorders

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fever

1. PloS one

Insulin resistance

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Leprosy

1. TheScientificWorldJournal

Lipid metabolism

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Pain

1. PloS one

Tumor

1. TheScientificWorldJournal

Type 2 diabetes

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Preparations

Litsea glutinosa has 4 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Leaves, Petroleum extracted fractions, aqueous extracted samples, crude methanolic extracted samples.

Leaves

1. Bangladesh Medical Research Council bulletin

Petroleum extracted fractions

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Aqueous extracted samples

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Crude methanolic extracted samples

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences