Vietnamese mickey-mouse plant

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Yellow Mai

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ochna harmandii var. annamensis
• Polythecium thorelii
• Polythecium nitidum
• Polythecium pruinosum
• Polythecium inaequale
• Polythecium lefevrei
• Elaeocarpus integerrimus
• Polythecium pellucidum
• Ochna wallichii
• Polythecium pierrei
• Polythecium cochinchinense
• Ochna pruinosa
• Polythecanthum thorelii
• Ochna grandis
• Polythecium integrifolium
• Polythecanthum cochinchinense
• Ochna brevipes
• Polythecium helferi
• Ochna andamanica
• Polythecium latifolium
• Ochna harmandii
• Polythecium griffithii
• Polythecanthum lefevrei
• Ochna harmandii var. cambodiana
• Discladium harmandii
• Ochna harmandii var. latifolia
• Discladium wallichii
• Ochna harmandii var. retusa
• Diporidium wallichii
• Diporidium pruinosum
• Diporidium wallichii var. brevifolium
• Diporidium latifolium
• Diporidium wallichii var. longifolium
• Diporidium brevipes

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Ochna integerrima, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Malpighiales. It is further classified into the family Ochnaceae and the genus Ochna.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution across several key regions in Asia. Within China, it can be found in the Hainan province as well as across China Southeast. Its presence extends into the Indian Subcontinent, specifically located in Assam and Bangladesh. Furthermore, the species is documented within the Indo-China region, including the Andaman Islands. These varied locations highlight the plant's preference for these particular tropical and subtropical environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Ochna integerrima is characterized by its specific altitudinal distribution within its native habitat, where it thrives across a diverse vertical gradient. This species is typically found at elevations ranging from a minimum of 300 m AMSL to a maximum of 1400 m AMSL. Within this ecological niche, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 850 m AMSL, suggesting a preference for mid-altitude environments that likely provide the specific moisture and temperature regimes necessary for its growth and medicinal properties.

Elevational range max:

1400 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

850 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

300 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Ochna integerrima is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its long-term presence within its ecosystem. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its buds well above the ground level, a growth form that typically involves woody stems or shrubs. Its physiological cycle is marked by a deciduous nature, meaning it undergoes a period of leaf shedding, likely in response to seasonal environmental shifts. This combination of a long-lived life cycle, a phanerophyte life form, and deciduousness defines its developmental strategy and survival mechanisms in its natural habitat.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ochna integerrima is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically manifesting as a tree. This species is a terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte. In terms of its physical stature, the plant exhibits significant height variation, with a minimum height of 2 m, a mean height of approximately 6 m, and a maximum potential height reaching up to 12 m. Although it possesses a sturdy structure, it is classified as self-supporting rather than a liana or vine.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

12 m

Plant height mean:

6 m

Plant height min:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ochna integerrima is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The vegetative structure is defined by its foliar dimensions, where leaf length typically ranges from a minimum of 8 cm to a maximum of 19 cm, maintaining an average length of 13.5 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width varies between a minimum of 3 cm and a maximum of 5.5 cm, providing the necessary surface area for light interception and gas exchange. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on external soil nitrogen sources rather than symbiotic biological nitrogen fixation to support its nutritional requirements and physiological development.

Leaf length max:

19 cm

Leaf length mean:

13.5 cm

Leaf length min:

8 cm

Leaf width max:

5.5 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ochna integerrima culminates in the development of its characteristic fruits, which exhibit specific morphological dimensions. The fruit length within a population varies, ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 1.2 cm, with an observed mean length of 1.1 cm. Similarly, the fruit width shows distinct variability, measuring as little as 0.6 cm at its minimum and reaching up to 0.7 cm at its maximum, while maintaining an average width of 0.65 cm.

Fruit length max:

1.2 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.1 cm

Fruit length min:

1 cm

Fruit width max:

0.7 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.65 cm

Fruit width min:

0.6 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Ochna integerrima has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem.

Leaf

1. Phytochemistry

Stem

1. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Ochna integerrima has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 2",3"-Dihydroochnaflavone-7"-O-methyl ether, 6-gamma,gamma-Dimethylallyltaxifolin 7-O-beta-D-glucoside.

2",3"-Dihydroochnaflavone-7"-O-methyl ether

1. Phytochemistry

6-gamma,gamma-Dimethylallyltaxifolin 7-O-beta-D-glucoside

1. Phytochemistry

Preparations

Ochna integerrima has 1 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include stem bark.

Stem bark

1. Journal of natural products