Melicope latifolia

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several key regions in Southeast Asia. Within the Indo-China region, its presence is specifically noted in Myanmar. Moving into the Malesia zone, it can be found inhabiting the island of Borneo. The species also extends its range to include Jawa and the Lesser Sunda Islands. Finally, its distribution reaches into the Malay peninsula, completing its diverse tropical footprint.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Melicope latifolia is characterized by its nature as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. Throughout its existence, the plant maintains an evergreen habit, ensuring that it retains its foliage consistently rather than undergoing a seasonal shedding of leaves.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Melicope latifolia is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree, reaching a significant height with a mean and maximum stature of approximately 20 m. This plant is strictly terrestrial in its habitat, functioning as an independent organism rather than acting as a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of its structural habit, it is a self-supporting species, lacking the climbing or vining characteristics found in lianas or facultative climbers.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

20 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Melicope latifolia is characterized by a standard C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes and energy production through the Calvin cycle. As a non-nitrogen-fixing species, the plant does not possess the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil to support its metabolic functions and growth.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

Reproduction in Melicope latifolia is characterized by a complex sexual process involving the production of flowers that facilitate genetic diversity. A key aspect of its reproductive biology is the mechanism of pollination, where the trait of self-fertilization is notably absent, indicating that the species relies on cross-pollination to ensure successful fertilization. This absence of self-fertilization suggests a high degree of outcrossing, likely mediated by various insect pollinators that transfer pollen between different individual plants. Following successful cross-pollination, the plant develops seeds which serve as the primary agents for dispersal and the establishment of new generations within its habitat.

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Melicope latifolia 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 leaf.

Leaf

1. Virology journal

Conditions

Melicope latifolia has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include hepatitis C virus.

Hepatitis c virus

1. Virology journal