Psydrax dicoccos

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning several distinct regions across Asia. In China, it can be found growing throughout the South-Central and Southeast territories. Its presence is also noted on the island of Hainan and within the high-altitude regions of Tibet. Beyond Chinese borders, the species extends into the Indian Subcontinent. Specifically, it has been documented growing in the Assam region of India.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Psydrax dicoccos is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the individual to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on visible branches above the ground, though it also exhibits traits consistent with a nanophanerophyte, reflecting its specific growth habit and structural scale. This plant maintains a consistent foliage profile as an evergreen, ensuring that it retains its leaves throughout the year rather than undergoing a deciduous phase.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Psydrax dichocos is characterized by its substantial stature, reaching a mean plant height of approximately 11 m. It is classified as a woody tree that exhibits a self-supporting growth form, rather than acting as a liana or vine. As an independent organism, it does not function as a parasite, and its ecological habit is strictly terrestrial rather than aquatic or epiphytic.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

11 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Psydrax dichoccos is characterized by a standard C3 photosynthetic pathway, a process in which carbon fixation occurs directly through the Calvin cycle within the mesophyll cells, making it typical of many woody tropical species. In terms of nutrient cycling and metabolic interactions, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into biologically available forms.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Psydrax dicoccos 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. Fitoterapia