Tetradium glabrifolium

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Boymia glabrifolia
• Tetradium taiwanense
• Phellodendron burkillii
• Tetradium glabrifolium var. glaucum
• Eurycoma dubia
• Ampacus meliifolia
• Euodia glabrifolia
• Euodia meliifolia
• Euodia ailantifolia
• Euodia balansae
• Euodia fargesii
• Euodia glauca
• Euodia taiwanensis
• Euodia yunnanensis
• Megabotrya meliifolia

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 Sapindales, it is classified under the family Rutaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Tetradium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical range across several distinct regions of East Asia. Within China, it can be found spanning from the North-Central areas to the South-Central provinces. Its distribution also extends into the Southeast regions of the country and reaches the island of Hainan. Beyond the Chinese mainland, the species is also documented in Japan. Together, these locations highlight the diverse habitats where the plant naturally thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Tetraedium glabrifolium is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution that allows it to inhabit diverse montane environments. This species thrives across a significant vertical gradient, occupying habitats ranging from an elevation of 200 m AMSL to a maximum altitude of 2300 m AMSL. This wide elevational range suggests a high degree of ecological plasticity, enabling the plant to adapt to varying climatic conditions, temperature fluctuations, and moisture levels found between lowland tropical or subtropical zones and higher montane elevations.

Elevational range max:

2300 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

200 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Tetradium glabrifolium is characterized by its classification as a phanerophyte, a growth form where the perennating buds are located well above the ground level on aerial stems. Within this category, it specifically exhibits traits consistent with both phanerophyte and nanophanerophyte life forms, indicating a perennial existence where the plant maintains woody structures to survive unfavorable seasons. As a woody deciduous species, its life cycle involves a period of seasonal dormancy, retreating into its perennial stem structure during winter before initiating new growth from its elevated buds in the spring. This life history strategy allows the plant to occupy stable forest environments, utilizing its elevated photosynthetic organs to compete for light while ensuring long-term survival through its robust, perennial stem system.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Tetraedium glabrifolium is characterized by a woody growth form, manifesting primarily as a tree. It is a self-supporting species that does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, nor does it exhibit obligatory or facultative climbing habits. As an independent organism, it does not act as a parasite and maintains a terrestrial existence, rather than being aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic. The plant possesses a robust, woody structure and is capable of reaching a maximum plant height of 20 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Tetradium glabrifolium is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in varying light and temperature conditions. This pathway involves the direct fixation of CO2 through the enzyme RuBisCO within the mesophyll cells. Additionally, the structural integrity and biomass allocation of the plant are reflected in its stem specific density (SSD), which maintains a mean value of 469 mg/cm³. This density parameter provides insight into the mechanical strength and resource distribution within its vascular tissues.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

469 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Tetraedium glabrifolium is characterized by the production of seeds that exhibit specific morphological weight profiles. The seed mass within this species demonstrates measurable variability, with an observed mean mass of 0.010765 g. Individual seed measurements fluctuate within a defined range, reaching a maximum mass of 0.01292 g and a minimum mass of 0.00861 g.

Seed mass max:

0.01292 g

Seed mass mean:

0.010765 g

Seed mass min:

0.00861 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Tetradium glabrifolium has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit.

Fruit

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Chemicals

Tetradium glabrifolium has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Dehydroevodiamine, Evodiamine, Rutaecarpine, Synephrine.

Dehydroevodiamine

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Evodiamine

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Rutaecarpine

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Synephrine

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology