Myoporum bontioides

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Polycoelium bontioides
• Myoporum chinensis
• Pentacoelium bontioides
• Bontia bontioides
• Polycoelium chinense

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Myoporum bontioides, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, falling within the order Lamiales. Finally, it is a member of the family Scrophulariaceae and the genus Myoporum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide distribution across several regions in Eastern Asia. In China, it can be found specifically in Hainan as well as throughout China Southeast. Its range extends to the island of Taiwan, which is a key part of its habitat. Additionally, the species is present in Japan and the Nansei-shotō islands. Together, these locations define the specific geographical footprint of Myoporum bontioides.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Myoporum bontioides is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and maintain a stable presence in its natural habitat. Throughout its lifespan, the species exhibits an evergreen habit, ensuring that it retains its foliage year-round rather than undergoing a period of dormancy marked by leaf drop.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Myoporum bontioides is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub. This species typically reaches a plant height ranging from a minimum of 1 m to a maximum of 2 m, with an average height of approximately 1.5 m. As a self-supporting plant, it does not function as a climber (such as a liana or vine) and operates as an independent organism rather than a parasite. Its ecological habit is terrestrial, functioning neither as an aquatic nor a semiaquatic plant, nor as an epiphyte.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

1.5 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Myoporum bontioides is characterized by distinct vegetative morphology, particularly in its foliar structures which serve as the primary sites for photosynthetic activity and transpiration. The leaf dimensions exhibit significant variability, reflecting adaptive mechanisms to its environmental conditions. The leaf length typically fluctuates within a range of 5 cm at its minimum to a maximum of 10 cm, with an observed mean length of approximately 7.5 cm. Complementing this longitudinal variation is a corresponding breadth in leaf width, which ranges from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 3.5 cm, maintaining a mean width of 2.5 cm. These morphological parameters indicate a specialized surface area-to-volume ratio that supports the plant's metabolic requirements and gas exchange efficiency.

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length mean:

7.5 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

3.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

2.5 cm

Leaf width min:

1.5 cm

Reproduction

Reproduction in Myoporum bontioides is primarily facilitated through the development of fleshy fruits that house its seeds. The morphological characteristics of these fruits vary within specific parameters, exhibiting a fruit length that ranges from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 1.5 cm. On average, the fruit length is measured at approximately 1.25 cm, serving as the key vessel for seed dispersal and the continuation of the plant's life cycle.

Fruit length max:

1.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.25 cm

Fruit length min:

1 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Myoporum bontioides has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 3,4'-dimethoxy-3',5,7-trihydroxyflavone, Diaportinol, Dichlorodiaportin.

3,4'-dimethoxy-3',5,7-trihydroxyflavone

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Diaportinol

1. Pharmacognosy magazine

Dichlorodiaportin

1. Pharmacognosy magazine

Activities

Myoporum bontioides has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Cytotoxic.

Antimicrobial

1. Pharmacognosy magazine

Cytotoxic

1. Pharmacognosy magazine

Medicinal Uses

Myoporum bontioides has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include breast cancer, oral cancer.

Most Reported Uses