boxleaf eugenia

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• boxleaf eugenia
• fish-scale bush

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Eugenia sinensis
• Syllysium buxifolium
• Eugenia pyxophylla
• Eugenia somae
• Eugenia microphylla
• Syzygium somae

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 Myrtales, it is classified under the family Myrtaceae and is specifically identified by the genus Syzygium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several key regions in East Asia. Within China, it is specifically found in the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan areas. Its range extends further into Eastern Asia, where it is documented in Japan. Additionally, the species can be located within the Nansei-shoto islands. Together, these locations define the specific environmental niches where the plant thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Syzygium buxifolium is characterized by its perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish long-term presence in its habitat. In terms of its structural life form, it is classified as a phanerophyte, indicating that its perennial buds are located on aerial shoots well above the ground. Additionally, it exhibits characteristics of a nanophanerophyte, reflecting a specific growth habit where the woody stems remain relatively low but still maintain elevated buds.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Syzygium buxifolium is characterized by its stature as a woody tree, exhibiting a robust and self-supporting growth form. As an independent organism, it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence rather than an aquatic or semiaquatic one. Its structural development is defined by permanent woodiness, providing the necessary rigidity for its upright, arboreal habit, and it lacks any climbing tendencies such as liana or vine-like growth.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Syzygium buxifolium is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation strategies. The plant's vegetative structure is defined by its leaf dimensions, which exhibit specific morphological variations. The leaves typically maintain a mean length of 2.25 cm, with individual leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 3 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width varies between a minimum of 1 cm and a maximum of 2 cm, contributing to the overall structural efficiency of the foliage during gas exchange and light absorption.

Leaf length max:

3 cm

Leaf length mean:

2.25 cm

Leaf length min:

1.5 cm

Leaf width max:

2 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Syzygium buxifolium is characterized by a dispersal syndrome that is primarily zoochorous, though it may also exhibit an unspecialized strategy involving anemochorous, autochorous, or hydrochorous elements. The plant produces fleshy fruits, which serve as a key adaptation for attracting animal dispersers. Within these fruits, the seeds are consistent in size, maintaining a uniform volume of 65 mm³, which represents both the minimum and maximum measured values, as well as the mean seed volume.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Seed volume max:

65 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Syzygium buxifolium has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include BETA-SITOSTEROL, Friedelin, OLEANOLIC ACID, Pomolic acid, Ursolic acid.

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Friedelin

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

OLEANOLIC ACID

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Pomolic acid

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Ursolic acid

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

beta-Daucosterol

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica