Saurauia roxburghii

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Saurauia micrantha

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Ericales and the family Actinidiaceae, it is classified under the genus Saurauia. Specifically, it is identified by the scientific name Saurauia roxburghii.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several key regions within the Indian Subcontinent. It is commonly found throughout the state of Assam and across the country of Bangladesh. Furthermore, its presence extends into the mountainous terrain of the East Himalaya and throughout Nepal. Beyond the Indian Subcontinent, the species can also be located within the Indo-China region, specifically in Cambodia. These diverse locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in varied subtropical and montane environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Saurauia roxburghii is characterized by its distribution across diverse topographical gradients, typically thriving within montane forest ecosystems. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal adaptability, occupying a significant vertical range within its habitat. It is found at elevations starting from a minimum of 200 m AMSL and extending up to a maximum of 1700 m AMSL. This wide elevational distribution suggests that the plant is capable of tolerating varying climatic conditions, from warmer, lowland tropical environments to the cooler, more temperate conditions found in higher montane zones. Such ecological flexibility allows it to occupy various niches within the forest understory or edges, where moisture availability and light penetration are key drivers of its growth and survival.

Elevational range max:

1700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

200 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Saurauia roxburghii is characterized by its existence as a perennial organism, ensuring its presence in its natural habitat over multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its stem organs well above the ground level, a structural strategy that defines its growth habit and spatial occupation. It exhibits an evergreen deciduousness pattern, retaining its foliage throughout the year to facilitate continuous photosynthetic activity, rather than undergoing seasonal leaf shedding. This combination of a long-lived lifecycle, a phanerophyte life form, and evergreen characteristics dictates its ecological niche and survival strategy within its environment.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Saurauia roxburghii is characterized by its stature as a woody tree, which typically grows as a terrestrial species. This plant exhibits a robust growth form, reaching a mean plant height of approximately 10 m, with a maximum potential height of up to 12 m. As a self-supporting tree, it does not function as a climber, maintaining a stable, upright structure within its natural habitat.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Plant height max:

12 m

Plant height mean:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Saurauia roxburghii is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in its natural habitat. In terms of structural composition, the plant exhibits a consistent stem specific density (SSD) with a mean, minimum, and maximum value all recorded at 578.6 mg/cm³, indicating a highly uniform tissue density throughout the stem. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on external soil nutrient availability rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria to meet its nitrogen requirements.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) min:

578.6 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Saurauia roxburghii is characterized by the development of fruits that exhibit a fleshy texture, providing a nutrient-rich medium for seed protection and dispersal. The seeds contained within these fruits are notably minute, maintaining a highly consistent size profile throughout their development. Specifically, the seed volume remains constant with a minimum, maximum, and mean value of 0.1 mm³, indicating a uniform reproductive strategy regarding seed dimensions.

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Seed volume max:

0.1 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Saurauia roxburghii has 15 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include BETA-SITOSTEROL, Corosolic acid, Flavonoids, Glycosides, Maslinic acid.

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry

Corosolic acid

1. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry

Flavonoids

1. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry

Glycosides

1. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry

Maslinic acid

1. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry

OLEANOLIC ACID

1. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry

STIGMASTEROL

1. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry

Saponins

1. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry

Steroids

1. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry

Tannins

1. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry

Medicinal Uses

Saurauia roxburghii has 10 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include asthma, boils, bronchitis, eczema, epilepsy.

Most Reported Uses