Corky Debbar Tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Corky Debbar Tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Miliusa concinna
• Uvaria suberosa
• Guatteria suberosa
• Polyalthia suberosa var. laevis

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Magnoliales, it is classified under the family Annonaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Polyalthia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several key regions in Asia. In China, its presence is documented specifically in Hainan as well as throughout China Southeast. Moving toward the Indian Subcontinent, it can be found growing in the state of Assam. The species also populates the country of Bangladesh within this same subcontinent. Finally, its natural range extends across various parts of India.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Polyalthia suberosa is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a stable presence within its ecosystem. Throughout its existence, it maintains an evergreen status, consistently retaining its foliage rather than undergoing a seasonal shedding period. This combination of a long-term life cycle and continuous leaf presence enables the species to engage in sustained biological activities and maintain photosynthetic capacity year-round.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Polyalthia suberosa is characterized by a woody growth form, primarily manifesting as a shrub. This plant typically reaches an average height of approximately 4 meters. As a terrestrial organism, it is not adapted to aquatic or semiaquatic environments, nor does it function as an epiphyte. The plant is a self-supporting species, meaning it does not exhibit climbing behaviors such as a vine or liana, and it maintains an independent lifestyle rather than acting as a parasite.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

4 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Polyalthia suberosa is characterized by specific morphological dimensions of its foliage and its metabolic approach to nutrient acquisition. The leaf structure exhibits significant variability in size, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 6 cm to a maximum of 10 cm, maintaining a mean length of approximately 8 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width varies from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 3.5 cm, providing a specific surface area optimized for photosynthetic efficiency within its ecological niche. Regarding its nutrient cycling capabilities, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system rather than establishing symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen.

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length mean:

8 cm

Leaf length min:

6 cm

Leaf width max:

3.5 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Polyalthia suberosa is characterized by the development of small, fleshy fruits that exhibit specific morphological dimensions. The fruits typically present a near-spherical or slightly elongated shape, with the fruit length ranging from a minimum of 0.4 cm to a maximum of 0.5 cm, while the mean fruit length is recorded at 0.45 cm. Similarly, the fruit width shows a narrow range of variation, with a minimum width of 0.4 cm, a maximum width of 0.5 cm, and a mean width of 0.45 cm. This consistency in both length and width dimensions suggests a highly uniform fruit structure during the reproductive phase of the plant.

Fruit length max:

0.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.45 cm

Fruit length min:

0.4 cm

Fruit width max:

0.5 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.45 cm

Fruit width min:

0.4 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Polyalthia suberosa 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. Phytochemistry

Chemicals

Polyalthia suberosa has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 24-Noroleana-3,12-diene, Caryophyllene oxide, D-Limonene, N-trans-Coumaroyltyramine, N-trans-Feruloyltyramine.

24-Noroleana-3,12-diene

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Caryophyllene oxide

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

D-Limonene

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

N-trans-Coumaroyltyramine

1. Phytochemistry

N-trans-Feruloyltyramine

1. Phytochemistry

P-CYMENE

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Phytol

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Suberosol

1. Journal of natural products

Volatile oil

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

palmitic acid

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Activities

Polyalthia suberosa has 2 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antioxidant.

Analgesic

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Antioxidant

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Conditions

Polyalthia suberosa has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include HIV, analgesic, antioxidant.

Hiv

1. Journal of natural products

Analgesic

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Antioxidant

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies