Mallotus repandus

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical presence across several key regions of East Asia. Within China, its range extends through the South-Central and North-Central territories. It is also frequently found in the Southeast provinces and on the island of Hainan. Furthermore, the species is documented in the specific region of Taiwan. Together, these locations highlight the diverse environmental settings where the plant thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Mallotus repandus is defined by its preference for diverse forest environments, where it commonly inhabits rain forests, dry forests, as well as dense secondary shrublands and ruderal vegetation. This species occupies a specific altitudinal niche, primarily found within a narrow elevational range that begins at 250 m AMSL and reaches a maximum of 300 m AMSL. With a mean elevation of approximately 275 m AMSL, the plant thrives in these low-to-mid altitude tropical ecosystems, often colonizing disturbed areas alongside more established forest types.

Elevational range max:

300 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

275 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

250 m AMSL

Habitat :

rain forest, dry forest, dense secondary shrub and ruderal vegetation

Life history

The life history of Mallotus repandus is characterized by its classification as a phanerophyte, a life form defined by having its perennating buds elevated well above the ground level, typically on woody stems. While it predominantly exhibits a phanerophyte growth habit, its physiological plasticity and structural diversity within various ecological niches can occasionally align with characteristics of a nanophanerophyte, where the permanent shoots are kept relatively low. This life strategy allows the plant to maintain perennial structures that can withstand seasonal environmental shifts, ensuring long-term survival and the ability to regenerate from established woody tissue. Through this life history, the plant effectively manages its energy reserves within elevated buds to support continuous or seasonal growth cycles.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Mallotus repandus is characterized by a diverse growth habit that allows it to function as a woody shrub or a tree, depending on its environmental context. It exhibits a versatile ecological niche, ranging from terrestrial to semiaquatic habitats. As a climbing plant, it displays both self-supporting capabilities and obligatory climbing tendencies, often manifesting as a vine or liana to navigate its surroundings. The plant is biologically independent, functioning as a non-parasitic organism rather than an obligatory or facultative parasite. Furthermore, it is strictly a terrestrial species rather than an epiphyte, maintaining a robust, woody structure that supports its climbing and upright growth forms.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Mallotus repandus is characterized by distinct morphological dimensions within its foliage that reflect its growth patterns and surface area optimization for photosynthesis. The leaf architecture exhibits significant variability in size, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 3.5 cm to a maximum of 8 cm, resulting in a mean leaf length of 5.75 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 2.5 cm and a maximum of 5 cm, maintaining an average width of 3.75 cm. These dimensional parameters indicate a specialized leaf morphology that supports the plant's metabolic processes and environmental adaptations.

Leaf length max:

8 cm

Leaf length mean:

5.75 cm

Leaf length min:

3.5 cm

Leaf width max:

5 cm

Leaf width mean:

3.75 cm

Leaf width min:

2.5 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Mallotus repandus is characterized by the production of capsule-type fruits that exhibit a dehiscence mechanism for seed release. These fruits maintain a consistent width, with measured values for minimum, mean, and maximum dimensions all recorded at 1 cm. The seeds contained within these capsules are relatively small, displaying a mean mass of 0.02894 g, with individual seed weights ranging from a minimum of 0.014 g to a maximum of 0.04388 g. Following maturation, the plant utilizes a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on animals to facilitate the movement and distribution of its seeds within its habitat.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

1 cm

Seed mass max:

0.04388 g

Seed mass mean:

0.02894 g

Seed mass min:

0.014 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Mallotus repandus 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. Journal of natural products

Conditions

Mallotus repandus has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include pain.

Pain

1. PloS one