Flowering Murdah

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Flowering Murdah
• Kindal Tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pentaptera paniculata
• Pentaptera alata
• Pentaptera huliva
• Myrobalanus monaptera
• Terminalia monaptera

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. Following the subclass Magnoliidae, it is positioned in the order Myrtales and the family Combretaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Terminalia, specifically the species Terminalia paniculata.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily found within the specific geographical region of the Indian Subcontinent. Its natural habitat is centered in India, where it thrives in local ecosystems. Within this territory, it contributes to the diverse botanical landscape of the country. The distribution of the species appears to be concentrated in these particular areas. Consequently, its presence is a characteristic feature of the Indian subcontinent's flora.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Terminalia paniculata is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over many years. As a long-lived woody plant, it undergoes a continuous developmental process that extends far beyond the single growing seasons typical of annuals or biennials. Its lifecycle involves a sustained period of vegetative growth, during which it establishes a robust structural framework, followed by recurring reproductive phases. These reproductive cycles are integrated into its long-term biological strategy, enabling the plant to contribute to population stability and genetic diversity through repeated flowering and seed production throughout its extensive lifespan.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Terminalia paniculata is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, reaching a significant plant height with an average measurement of approximately 25 m. While some classifications may distinguish its climbing tendencies, it is primarily identified as a self-supporting structure rather than an obligatory or facultative liana or vine. Its physical architecture is defined by a robust, woody composition, establishing it firmly within the tree category of growth forms.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

tree

Plant height mean:

25 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Terminalia paniculata is characterized by its metabolic and nutritional strategies adapted to its specific ecological niche. This species utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a mechanism where carbon dioxide is fixed directly through the Calvin cycle, which is typical for most woody dicotyledonous trees in temperate and tropical environments. Furthermore, regarding its nutrient acquisition processes, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer; it relies on the uptake of nitrogen from the soil in the form of nitrates or ammonium through its root system rather than through symbiotic associations with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Terminalia paniculata is characterized by the production of fruits classified as drupes, which are indehiscent in nature, meaning they do not split open at maturity to release their contents. The seeds within these fruits exhibit a notable range in physical dimensions, with a minimum seed mass of approximately 0.03839 g and a maximum mass reaching up to 1.91665 g, resulting in an average seed mass of roughly 1.0044566665 g. Regarding the movement of offspring to new locations, the species utilizes an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, relying primarily on wind currents to facilitate the spread of its seeds across the environment.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Fruit type :

drupe

Seed mass max:

1.91665 g

Seed mass mean:

1.0044566665 g

Seed mass min:

0.03839 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Terminalia paniculata 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 leaf, root.

Leaf

1. Journal of integrative medicine

Root

1. Fitoterapia

Chemicals

Terminalia paniculata has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Tannin, acetone, betulinic acid, ethanol, methanol.

Tannin

1. Cardiovascular & hematological agents in medicinal chemistry

acetone

1. Journal of integrative medicine

betulinic acid

1. Dr. Duke

ethanol

1. Journal of integrative medicine

methanol

1. Journal of integrative medicine

Activities

Terminalia paniculata has 19 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

Antiedemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Antileukemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antimalarial

1. Dr. Duke

Antimelanomic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Terminalia paniculata has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include hyperglycemia, oxidative stress.

Hyperglycemia

1. Cardiovascular & hematological agents in medicinal chemistry

Oxidative stress

1. Cardiovascular & hematological agents in medicinal chemistry

Preparations

Terminalia paniculata has 1 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include roots.

Roots

1. Fitoterapia