Scleropyrum pentandrum

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Scleropyrum wallichianum var. mekongense
• Scleropyrum moschiferum
• Scleropyrum wallichianum var. siamense
• Pyrularia ceylanica
• Pyrularia wallichiana
• Pyrularia moschifera
• Heydia horrida
• Sphaerocarya moschifera
• Pothos pentandrus
• Sphaerocarya wallichiana
• Scleropyrum ridleyi
• Scleropyrum mekongense
• Scleropyrum wallichianum
• Champereia perrottetiana
• Bridelia horrida
• Antidesma parasiticum

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further organized into the subclass Magnoliidae, the order Santalales, and the family Santalaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Scleropyrum, specifically as the species Scleropyrum pentaandrum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution spanning across several key regions in Asia. In China, it can be found specifically in the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan areas. Its presence extends significantly into the Indian Subcontinent, where it is native to India. Additionally, the species is recorded within the borders of Sri Lanka. Together, these locations highlight the plant's diverse habitat across both mainland China and South Asia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Scleropyrrum pentandrum is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and maintain a long-term presence within its ecological niche. Throughout its developmental stages, the plant maintains an evergreen habit, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and photosynthetic year-round rather than undergoing a seasonal shedding period.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Scleropyrum pentandrum is characterized by its significant stature and robust structural development. It primarily manifests as a woody tree, exhibiting a growth form that is distinctly tree-like rather than herbaceous or shrubby. As a terrestrial species, it grows directly from the ground rather than functioning as an epiphyte. The plant reaches substantial dimensions, with a mean height of approximately 10 m, although it is capable of attaining a maximum height of up to 21 m. While some botanical classifications may note its ability to function in a self-supporting manner, its primary morphological identity is that of a large, woody, self-supporting tree.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Plant height max:

21 m

Plant height mean:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Sclerochlamys pentaandrum is characterized by a metabolic profile consistent with typical dicotyledonous woody plants, operating primarily through a C3 photosynthetic pathway. This mechanism involves the direct fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide via the enzyme RuBisCO during the Calvin cycle, which is the standard efficiency model for plants in temperate to subtropical environments where water availability is not a limiting factor necessitating CAM or C4 adaptations. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer; it lacks the specialized symbiotic relationships with diazotrophic bacteria, such as Rhizobium, required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, and instead relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil substrate to fulfill its nitrogen requirements for protein and nucleic acid synthesis.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Scleropyrum pentandrum has 1 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.

Fruit

1. Phytochemistry
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Chemicals

Scleropyrum pentandrum has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 4-O-(3'',4''-di-O-galloyl-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl)ellagic acid, 4-o-(4''-o-galloyl-alpha-l-rhamnopyranosyl)ellagic acid.

4-O-(3'',4''-di-O-galloyl-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl)ellagic acid

1. Phytochemistry

4-o-(4''-o-galloyl-alpha-l-rhamnopyranosyl)ellagic acid

1. Phytochemistry

Preparations

Scleropyrum pentandrum has 3 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts of fruits, methanol extracts of the fruits, raw fruit extracts.

Extracts of fruits

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Methanol extracts of the fruits

1. Phytochemistry

Raw fruit extracts

1. Phytochemistry