Red cedar

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Chinese mahogany
• Red Cedar
• Australian red-cedar
• Australian-cedar
• red-cedar
• toontree
• Indian mahogany

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cedrela toona var. latifolia
• Swietenia toona
• Cedrela toona var. listeri
• Toona hexandra var. parviflora
• Cedrela toona var. nepalensis
• Surenus serrulata
• Cedrela toona var. parviflora
• Toona kingii
• Surenus toona
• Cedrela velutina
• Toona hexandra subsp. velutina
• Cedrela toona var. pubinervis
• Cedrela toona var. sublaxiflora
• Cedrela toona var. vestita
• Surenus teysmannii
• Cedrela toona var. yunnanensis
• Toona mannii
• Cedrela teysmannii
• Cedrela toona
• Toona mollis
• Cedrela toona var. grandiflora
• Toona serrulata
• Cedrela toona var. haslettii
• Toona microcarpa
• Cedrela serrulata
• Toona hexandra
• Cedrela multijuga
• Toona ciliata var. parviflora
• Cedrela microcarpa
• Toona hexandra var. gamblei
• Cedrela mollis
• Toona hexandra var. haslettii
• Cedrela mannii
• Toona hexandra var. griffithiana
• Cedrela hainesii
• Toona hexandra var. listeri
• Cedrela kingii
• Toona hainesii
• Toona ciliata var. yunnanensis
• Toona ciliata var. vestita
• Cedrela brevipetiolulata
• Toona ciliata var. velutina
• Toona ciliata subsp. velutina
• Toona ciliata var. sublaxiflora
• Toona ciliata var. haslettii
• Toona hexandra var. mollis
• Toona australis
• Toona ciliata var. brevipetiolulata
• Toona ciliata var. australis
• Toona ciliata var. hainesii
• Toona ciliata var. multijuga
• Toona ciliata var. mollis
• Toona ciliata var. listeri
• Toona ciliata var. latifolia
• Toona ciliata var. kingii
• Toona ciliata var. hexandra
• Toona sureni var. teysmannii
• Toona ternatensis
• Toona hexandra var. kingii
• Toona sureni var. cochinchinensis
• Toona febrifuga var. cochinchinensis
• Cedrela toona var. cuspidata
• Cedrela toona var. stracheyi
• Cedrela toona var. pilipetala
• Cedrela toona var. gamblei
• Cedrela toona var. talbotii
• Cedrela toona var. puberula
• Cedrela toona var. warburgii
• Cedrela kingii var. birmanica
• Toona sureni var. pubescens
• Toona ciliata var. pubescens
• Toona febrifuga var. griffithiana
• Toona febrifuga var. ternatensis
• Cedrela toona var. hainesii
• Surenus australis
• Cedrela toona var. australis
• Cedrela febrifuga var. cochinchinensis
• Toona ciliata subsp. nepalensis
• Toona microcarpa var. pilipetala
• Toona ciliata var. pilipetala
• Toona ciliata var. pubinervis
• Toona hexandra var. pubinervis
• Cedrela toona var. multijuga
• Cedrela febrifuga f. ternatensis
• Dracontomelon multijugum
• Cedrela toona var. deccana
• Cedrela toona var. pubescens
• Cedrela toona var. pilistaminea
• Surenus microcarpa

Regional and Traditional Names

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 Meliaceae. Its specific taxonomic designation is within the genus Toona, where it is known as Toona ciliata.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across several key regions of the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found inhabiting the islands within the Gulf of Guinea. The species is also documented growing in the West-Central Tropical African nation of Rwanda. Moving toward East Tropical Africa, its presence is noted in the countries of Kenya and Uganda. Finally, its geographical range extends further south to include Tanzania within the East Tropical African region.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Teak (Tectona grandis, often referred to in botanical contexts involving its specific ecological niches) is defined by its adaptability to diverse tropical environments, specifically thriving within a broad altitudinal gradient. This species occupies a significant vertical range in its natural habitats, ranging from a minimum elevation of 200 m AMSL to a maximum elevation of 1830 m AMSL. It is typically found in moist deciduous forests where it plays a structural role in the canopy, responding to seasonal variations in moisture and light availability. The plant is well-suited to tropical climates characterized by distinct wet and dry seasons, utilizing its deciduous nature to manage water stress during periods of low precipitation. Its distribution across these specific elevational bounds allows it to interface with various microclimates, influencing soil composition and forest structure within its ecological niche.

Elevational range max:

1830 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

200 m AMSL

Genetics

The genetics of Terminalia catappa (commonly referred to in botanical contexts related to the Toona genus discussions as Toona ciliata) are characterized by a specific karyotypic structure that defines its reproductive and evolutionary stability. A fundamental cytogenetic parameter of this species is its chromosome number, which is documented as 56. This diploid number plays a critical role in the plant's meiotic processes and genetic inheritance patterns, influencing the complexity of its genome and its ability to adapt to diverse ecological niches. The stability of this chromosomal count is a key factor in maintaining species integrity during vegetative and sexual reproduction.

Chromosome number :

56

Life history

The life history of Touna ciliata is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over many growing seasons. Throughout its development, the plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage periodically as part of its seasonal biological cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Terminalia catappa (often referred to in botanical contexts related to Toona ciliata morphology studies) is characterized by its robust growth form as a large, woody tree. It is a terrestrial species that functions as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. The plant exhibits a significant vertical stature, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 5 meters to a maximum of 35 meters, though it can reach a mean height of approximately 40 meters. As a self-supporting tree, it does not exhibit climbing or vining behavior, maintaining a stable, upright structural integrity through its woody composition.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

35 m

Plant height mean:

40 m

Plant height min:

5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Teona ciliata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a metabolic process optimized for moderate environments rather than extreme water-conserving mechanisms like CAM or C4. Its leaf morphology is defined by an elliptic form with entire margins, lacking both thorns and spines, and does not exhibit any degree of succulence. The leaves vary in size, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 15 cm to a maximum of 60 cm, and widths ranging from 1.5 cm to 5 cm. The Specific Leaf Area (SLA) is constant across its observed range at 129.4262295 cm²/g, suggesting a consistent leaf density and resource allocation strategy. Structurally, the plant maintains a stem specific density (SSD) with a mean value of 434.333333333333 mg/cm³, providing necessary mechanical support. Additionally, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nutrient availability for its physiological development.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

60 cm

Leaf length min:

15 cm

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

5 cm

Leaf width min:

1.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) min:

129.4262295 cm²/g

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

434.333333333333 mg/cm³

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproductive cycle of Toona ciliata begins with its flowering period, which typically starts in April and concludes in June, though the timing can be variable across different months. The plant utilizes biotic pollination syndromes, specifically relying on insects, with bees identified as a key pollinator. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruit characterized as a capsule, with fruit lengths ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 2.8 cm. These fruits are dehiscent, meaning they split open at maturity to release the seeds. The seeds themselves exhibit significant variation in size and weight, with lengths ranging from 1 mm to 2 mm. In terms of mass, the seeds have a mean weight of approximately 0.034 g, though individual seeds can be as light as 0.002 g or as heavy as 0.49 g. Dispersal of the species is achieved through a combination of syndromes: it utilizes zoochorous methods (dispersal by animals) as well as anemochorous methods (dispersal by wind).

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Jun

Fruit length max:

2.8 cm

Fruit length min:

2 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length max:

2 mm

Seed length min:

1 mm

Seed mass max:

0.49 g

Seed mass mean:

0.034376875 g

Seed mass min:

0.002 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Toona ciliata has 4 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include stem, flower, leaf, root.

Stem

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. Fitoterapia

Flower

1. Frontiers in plant science

Leaf

1. Frontiers in plant science

Root

1. Frontiers in plant science

Chemicals

Toona ciliata has 13 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 12alpha-hydroxystigmast-4-en-3-one, Cedrelone, Coumarins, Dyscusin C, Flavonoids.

12alpha-hydroxystigmast-4-en-3-one

1. Die Pharmazie

Cedrelone

1. Fitoterapia

Coumarins

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Dyscusin C

1. Natural product research

Flavonoids

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Girinimbine

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Lutein

1. Natural product research

Rutamarin

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Santalene

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Tannins

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Activities

Toona ciliata has 7 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Cytotoxic, Analgesic, Anticancer, Antiglycation.

Antioxidant

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of natural products
2. Die Pharmazie

Analgesic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Anticancer

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Antiglycation

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antimalarial

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Cytoprotective

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Toona ciliata has 7 reported investigations on conditions identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Malaria, analgesic, anthelmintic, glycation, kidney diseases.

Malaria

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Analgesic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Anthelmintic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Glycation

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Kidney diseases

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Snakebite

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Toothache

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Toona ciliata has 22 reported preparations identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Ethanol extract, acetone, acetone extract, aqueous extract, chloroform extract.

Ethanol extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Acetone

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Acetone extract

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Aqueous extract

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Chloroform extract

1. Natural product research

Chloroform extracts

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Chloroform fractions

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Crude extracts

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Extracts of its flowers

1. Frontiers in plant science