Meda

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Malapoenna monopetala
• Tetranthera macrophylla
• Tetranthera monopetala
• Tetranthera hexantha
• Tetranthera monopetala var. minor
• Tomex monopetala
• Tomex pubescens
• Tetranthera quadriflora
• Tetranthera alnoides

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, specifically falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Laurales, it is a member of the Lauraceae family. Finally, its taxonomic classification is completed under the genus Litsea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution spanning across several distinct regions. In the Western Indian Ocean, it can be found growing in both Mauritius and Réunion. Its presence extends significantly into Asia, specifically within the diverse landscapes of China. Within this country, it is located in the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan regions. These various locations highlight the widespread ecological adaptability of the species.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Litsea monopetala is characterized by its ability to thrive across a diverse range of altitudinal gradients within its native habitats. This species demonstrates significant ecological plasticity, occupying environments ranging from lower elevations starting at 200 m AMSL up to high-altitude zones reaching a maximum of 2000 m AMSL. The distribution of the plant is centered around a mean elevation of approximately 1500 m AMSL, suggesting a preference for mid-to-high elevation montane ecosystems. This broad elevational span allows the species to interact with varying microclimates, temperature regimes, and moisture levels, playing a specialized role in the forest structure across these distinct vertical zones.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

200 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Litsea monopetala is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its long-term presence within its ecological niche. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated woody structures, a life form that is further classified under the phanerophyte category to describe its growth habit. This species exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its foliage throughout the year, providing consistent canopy cover and continuous metabolic activity.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Litsea monopetala is characterized by its stature as a large, woody tree that functions as a self-supporting growth form. It is a terrestrial species that grows independently, without acting as a parasite or an epiphyte. This tree reaches a significant size in its natural habitat, with an average plant height of approximately 16.5 m and a maximum height that can extend up to 18 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

18 m

Plant height mean:

16.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Litsea monopetala is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. Its foliar morphology features oblanceolate leaves with entire margins, entirely lacking in thorns or spines. The leaf dimensions vary, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 8 cm to a mean of 14 cm, reaching a maximum of 20 cm, while leaf widths range from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 12 cm. The plant exhibits a consistent Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 136.2271103 cm²/g across its minimum, mean, and maximum values, reflecting a stable leaf mass per unit area. Structurally, the stem displays a mean specific density (SSD) of 517 mg/cm³, contributing to its physical support and biomass composition. Furthermore, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nitrogen availability for its nutritional requirements.

Leaf form :

oblanceolate

Leaf length max:

20 cm

Leaf length mean:

14 cm

Leaf length min:

8 cm

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

12 cm

Leaf width min:

4 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) min:

136.2271103 cm²/g

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

517 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Litsea monopetala is characterized by the production of fleshy, indehiscent drupes that serve as the primary fruit type. These fruits exhibit highly consistent dimensions, maintaining a mean length of 0.7 cm (ranging from a minimum to a maximum of 0.7 cm) and a mean width of 0.5 cm (with minimum and maximum values also consistently at 0.5 cm). The seeds contained within these fleshy fruits are uniform in their physical properties, possessing a mean seed mass of 0.18868 g, which serves as both the minimum and maximum recorded mass. Furthermore, the seed volume is remarkably stable, with a mean, minimum, and maximum value all recorded at 100 mm³. The dispersal syndrome of this species is classified as anemochorous, facilitating the spread of its reproductive units through wind action.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

0.7 cm

Fruit type :

drupe

Fruit width max:

0.5 cm

Seed mass mean:

0.18868 g

Seed volume max:

100 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Litsea monopetala has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant.

Antibacterial

1. Journal of experimental pharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Journal of experimental pharmacology

Conditions

Litsea monopetala has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include antioxidant activity.

Antioxidant activity

1. Journal of experimental pharmacology

Preparations

Litsea monopetala has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts, methanolic extracts.

Extracts

1. TheScientificWorldJournal

Methanolic extracts

1. Journal of experimental pharmacology