Mallotus barbatus

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Mallotus lotingensis
• Mallotus barbatus var. wui
• Mallotus barbatus var. congestus
• Mallotus barbatus var. hubeiensis
• Mallotus barbatus var. pedicellaris
• Mallotus conspurcatus
• Mallotus croizatianus
• Mallotus barbatus var. croizatianus
• Mallotus leveillanus
• Mallotus luchenensis

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, it falls under the order Malpighiales and the family Euphorbiaceae. Finally, it is specifically categorized under the genus Mallotus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several distinct Asian regions. In China, it can be found throughout the South-Central and Southeast territories. Its presence extends into the Indian Subcontinent, specifically within the borders of India. Furthermore, the species is distributed across the Indo-China region. Within this area, it is documented to grow in both Cambodia and Laos.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Mallotus barbaptus is closely tied to its specific altitudinal distribution within its native habitats. This species is typically found across a varied topographic gradient, occupying an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 400 m AMSL. As the terrain ascends, the plant persists through middle elevations, maintaining a mean presence at approximately 850 m AMSL. The upper limit of its ecological niche is reached at an elevation of 1300 m AMSL, defining the specific vertical boundaries within which the species can successfully establish and thrive.

Elevational range max:

1300 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

850 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

400 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Mallotus barbatus is characterized by its existence as a perennial species, ensuring its presence in the ecosystem over multiple growing seasons. Architecturally, the plant exhibits dual life form classifications, functioning as a phanerophyte through its elevated structural growth, while also displaying traits consistent with a nanophanerophyte. Throughout its developmental stages, the plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, retaining its foliage consistently rather than shedding it seasonally, which allows for continuous photosynthetic activity.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Mallotus barbatus is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree. It is an independent, terrestrial plant that does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of its stature, the plant exhibits a height that varies, with a minimum recorded height of 3 m and a maximum of 4 m, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 4.83 m. Although some classifications describe its climbing nature as self-supporting, its primary structural identity is that of a woody, self-supporting tree.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

4 m

Plant height mean:

4.83333333333333 m

Plant height min:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Mallotus barbatus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic carbon fixation processes. The plant's vegetative development is marked by significant variability in foliage dimensions, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 9 cm to a maximum of 35 cm, averaging approximately 22.375 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width exhibits a broad spectrum, spanning from a minimum of 7 cm to a maximum of 28 cm, with a mean width of 13.5 cm. Furthermore, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on the uptake of available nitrogen from the surrounding soil rather than symbiotic atmospheric fixation.

Leaf length max:

35 cm

Leaf length mean:

22.375 cm

Leaf length min:

9 cm

Leaf width max:

28 cm

Leaf width mean:

13.5 cm

Leaf width min:

7 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Mallotus barbaptus is characterized by a specific pollination and fruiting profile, notably marked by the absence of self-fertilization, which suggests a reliance on cross-pollination mechanisms to ensure genetic diversity. The development of its fruit is accompanied by measurable variations in size; the fruit width typically ranges from a minimum of 1.3 cm to a maximum of 2 cm, with an overall mean fruit width of approximately 1.72 cm.

Fruit width max:

2 cm

Fruit width mean:

1.71666666666667 cm

Fruit width min:

1.3 cm

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Mallotus barbatus 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 stem.

Stem

1. Natural product research

Chemicals

Mallotus barbatus has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 6-Prenylnaringenin, 7-O-Methyl-6-Prenylnaringenin, 7-O-Methyl-8-prenylnaringenin, 8-Prenylnaringenin.

6-Prenylnaringenin

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

7-O-Methyl-6-Prenylnaringenin

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

7-O-Methyl-8-prenylnaringenin

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

8-Prenylnaringenin

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Preparations

Mallotus barbatus has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include bark.

Bark

1. Natural product research