needlewood

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• needlewood
• schima
• simartolu
• needlewood tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Schima mollis
• Schima pulgarensis
• Schima lowii
• Schima rigida
• Schima sulcinervia
• Schima sericea
• Schima hypoglauca
• Schima hypochra
• Schima antherisosa
• Schima brevipes
• Schima bancana
• Gordonia chilaunea
• Gordonia integrifolia
• Gordonia oblata
• Gordonia wallichii

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 Ericales, it is classified under the family Theaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Schima.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range across several key regions of Asia. In China, it can be found spanning from the South-Central areas to the Southeast. Its presence also extends into the high-altitude landscapes of Tibet. Moving into the Indian Subcontinent, the species is notably distributed throughout Assam. Finally, its habitat includes the territories of Bangladesh, completing its regional footprint.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Schima wallichii is characterized by its ability to thrive across a broad altitudinal gradient within montane forest ecosystems. It is typically found inhabiting a wide elevational range, spanning from a minimum of 200 m AMSL to a maximum of 2700 m AMSL. This extensive vertical distribution allows the species to occupy diverse ecological niches, ranging from subtropical lower montane forests to higher temperate forest zones. The plant often acts as a pioneer or sub-canopy species in various forest types, adapting to the varying climatic conditions and soil compositions present throughout these diverse elevations.

Elevational range max:

2700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

200 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Schima wallichii is characterized by its status as a perennial species, ensuring long-term presence within its ecological niche. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated woody stems, a trait reflected in both its classification as a phanerophyte and its specific structural development. This species exhibits an evergreen deciduousness pattern, retaining its foliage throughout the seasons to facilitate continuous biological processes. Through these physiological traits, the plant establishes a stable and enduring life cycle within its native habitat.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Schima wallichii is characterized by its robust growth form as a large, woody tree. This species is a self-supporting, terrestrial plant that functions independently, lacking any parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. It reaches significant dimensions in the forest canopy, with a plant height that can reach a maximum of 35 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 35 m. As a strictly woody organism, it possesses a sturdy structural framework that supports its substantial stature.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

35 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Schima wallichii is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits specific morphological adaptations in its foliage, featuring elliptic leaf forms with entire margins and a complete absence of both leaf thorns and leaf spines. In terms of structural composition, the stem possesses a specific density (SSD) with a mean value of 694 mg/cm³. Furthermore, Schima wallichii does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nutrient availability for its nitrogen requirements.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

694 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Schima wallichii is characterized by the production of relatively lightweight seeds, which exhibit a highly consistent mass profile. The seed mass follows a narrow range, with a minimum value of 0.0044 g and a maximum value of 0.00451 g, resulting in a calculated mean seed mass of 0.004455 g. Regarding the movement of these seeds away from the parent plant, the species utilizes an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning its reproductive success relies significantly on wind for the transport and distribution of its seeds within its habitat.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Seed mass max:

0.00451 g

Seed mass mean:

0.004455 g

Seed mass min:

0.0044 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Schima wallichii has 1 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Biomedical reports
2. Scientific reports
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Schima wallichii has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include kaempferol 3-O-rhamnoside, Flavonoid, Octatriacontyl trifluoroacetate, n-Hexadecanoic acid, quinic acid.

kaempferol 3-O-rhamnoside

1. Biomedical reports
2. Scientific reports

Flavonoid

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Octatriacontyl trifluoroacetate

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

n-Hexadecanoic acid

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

quinic acid

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Schima wallichii has 2 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anthelmintic, Antidiabetic.

Anthelmintic

1. Veterinary world

Antidiabetic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Schima wallichii has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include HepG2 cells, bone fractures, hepatocellular carcinoma, hypertension, malaria.

Hepg2 cells

1. Scientific reports

Bone fractures

1. PloS one

Hepatocellular carcinoma

1. Scientific reports

Hypertension

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Malaria

1. Biomedical reports

Preparations

Schima wallichii has 5 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include crude extract, ethanol extract, methanol leaves extract, solvent fractions, total extract.

Crude extract

1. Scientific reports

Ethanol extract

1. Biomedical reports

Methanol leaves extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Solvent fractions

1. Scientific reports

Total extract

1. Scientific reports