Ceylon-oak

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Ceylon-oak
• Macassar oiltree
• Malay lactree
• lactree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Koon oleosus
• Melicoccus trijuga
• Melicoccus pubescens
• Scytalia trijuga
• Schleichera pubescens
• Schleichera aculeata
• Ornitrophe triandra
• Schmidelia triandra
• Cussambium glabrum
• Stadtmannia pubescens
• Cussambium oleosum
• Stadtmannia trijuga
• Cussambium pubescens
• Cussambium spinosum
• Schleichera trijuga var. extensa
• Pistacia oleosa

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Sapindales and the family Sapindaceae. Its specific taxonomic designation is within the genus Schleichera.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across various regions of the Indian Subcontinent. It can be found growing naturally throughout the diverse landscapes of India. The species is also well-established in the neighboring territories of Bangladesh and Nepal. Additionally, its presence extends to the tropical environments of Sri Lanka. Finally, it is specifically documented within the lush, humid regions of Assam.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Schleichera oleosa is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to establish long-term presence within its natural ecosystem. As a deciduous plant, it undergoes seasonal cycles of leaf shedding, typically responding to changes in moisture availability and temperature to manage its physiological processes. This life cycle involves a sustained period of growth and maturation over multiple years, punctuated by periodic dormancy periods during which its foliage is lost before regenerating in subsequent growing seasons.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Schleichera oleosa is characterized by its robust growth form as a large, woody tree, which can reach an impressive mean height of approximately 30 meters. As a terrestrial plant, it grows independently in its environment without being an epiphyte or a parasite, maintaining a self-supporting structure rather than acting as a climber, liana, or vine. Its physical development is defined by a solid woody composition, ensuring its stability as a dominant terrestrial species.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

30 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Schleichera oleosa is characterized by a metabolic framework that utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common mechanism in many woody plant species where carbon fixation occurs primarily through the Calvin cycle within the mesophyll cells. Unlike plants that employ C4 or CAM pathways to minimize photorespiration in arid environments, this species relies on the standard C3 process for converting atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic compounds. In terms of nutrient cycling and symbiotic relationships, Schleichera oleosa is not a nitrogen fixer; it lacks the specialized biological mechanisms, such as root nodules containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria, required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, and thus depends on the availability of fixed nitrogen within the soil substrate for its growth and development.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Schleichera oleosa is characterized by a specialized reproductive strategy involving fleshy, drupe-type fruits that are indehiscent in nature. The plant does not exhibit self-fertilization, indicating a reliance on cross-pollination mechanisms to ensure genetic diversity. The seeds produced are relatively substantial, with a mean seed mass of approximately 0.55536 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.52632 g to a maximum of 0.5844 g. These seeds maintain a consistent volume of 630 mm³, as both the minimum and maximum recorded volumes are identical to the mean. Due to the fleshy nature of the fruit, the dispersal syndrome is classified as zoochorous, meaning the seeds are primarily distributed via animals, which play a crucial role in the plant's life cycle and spatial spread.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit type :

drupe

Seed mass max:

0.5844 g

Seed mass mean:

0.55536 g

Seed mass min:

0.52632 g

Seed volume max:

630 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Schleichera oleosa 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 fruit, stem.

Fruit

1. PeerJ

Stem

1. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Schleichera oleosa has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoid, betulinic acid, Betulin, Lupeol, Lupeol acetate.

Flavonoid

1. PeerJ
2. Frontiers in molecular biosciences

betulinic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

Betulin

1. Dr. Duke

Lupeol

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Lupeol acetate

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Phytosterols

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

SCHLEICHERASTATIN 1

1. Journal of natural products

Scillarenin

1. Frontiers in molecular biosciences

Tannin

1. Frontiers in molecular biosciences

triterpenoids

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Activities

Schleichera oleosa has 25 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anthelmintic, AntiHIV, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Anticarcinomic.

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antidiabetic

1. PeerJ

Antiedemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antifeedant

1. Dr. Duke

Antiflu

1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Schleichera oleosa has 7 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include arthritis, cancer, inflammation, malaria, pain.

Arthritis

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Cancer

1. Journal of natural products

Inflammation

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Malaria

1. Frontiers in molecular biosciences

Pain

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Rheumatoid arthritis

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Ulcers

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Preparations

Schleichera oleosa has 7 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Extracts, Soxhlet extraction using chloroform, Soxhlet extraction using methanol, Soxhlet extraction using petroleum ether, extract prepared from the bark and stem.

Extracts

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Soxhlet extraction using chloroform

1. Frontiers in molecular biosciences

Soxhlet extraction using methanol

1. Frontiers in molecular biosciences

Soxhlet extraction using petroleum ether

1. Frontiers in molecular biosciences

Extract prepared from the bark and stem

1. Journal of natural products

Methanol extract

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Methanolic crude extracts

1. PeerJ