Chinese Toon

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• red toon
• Chinese Mahogany
• Tun tree
• Chinese Cedar

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cedrela serrata
• Cedrela sinensis
• Cedrela glabra
• Ailanthus flavescens
• Toona serrata
• Ailanthus mairei
• Toona sinensis var. denticulata
• Toona sinensis var. glabra
• Toona glabra
• Toona sinensis var. carmesinixylon
• Toona sinensis var. schensiana
• Toona sinensis var. puberula
• Toona sinensis var. longifolia
• Toona sinensis var. hupehana
• Toona sinensis var. grandifolia
• Toona sinensis var. grandis
• Cedrela sinensis var. schensiana
• Toona sinensis var. incarvillei
• Surenus sinensis
• Toona microcarpa var. denticulata
• Toona microcarpa var. grandifolia
• Cedrela serrata var. puberula
• Cedrela longifolia var. kumaona
• Cedrela sinensis var. hupehana
• Surenus glabra
• Surenus serrata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Toona sinensis, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae within the order Sapindales. Finally, it is a member of the family Meliaceae and falls under the genus Toona.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide-ranging geographical distribution across several diverse continents. In Western Asia, its presence can be noted within the borders of Afghanistan. The species is also found in China, specifically concentrated in the South-Central regions. Moving toward East Tropical Africa, the plant grows in both Tanzania and Uganda. Finally, its range extends into Middle Europe, where it is located in Germany.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Toona sinensis is characterized by its ability to thrive across a significant altitudinal gradient, typically spanning an elevational range from 500 m to a maximum of 2700 m AMSL. This species demonstrates considerable adaptability to various environmental conditions, frequently colonizing open, managed, and roadside habitats. Such versatility allows it to establish itself in disturbed landscapes and human-influenced areas as effectively as in more stable, managed ecological settings.

Elevational range max:

2700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

500 m AMSL

Habitat :

open, managed, roadside

Life history

The life history of Toona sinensis is characterized by its nature as a perennial species, allowing it to establish long-term presence within its ecosystem. As it matures, the plant exhibits a deciduous growth habit, shedding its foliage seasonally in response to environmental cues.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Toona sinensis is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree, reaching significant dimensions in the forest canopy. It is a self-supporting species that grows independently, lacking any parasitic or epiphytic tendencies, and is strictly terrestrial in its habitat. The plant exhibits a substantial stature, with a mean height of approximately 40 m and a maximum height that can reach up to 36 m, depending on environmental conditions. As a woody perennial, it maintains a sturdy, upright structure without the need for climbing or liana-like support.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

36 m

Plant height mean:

40 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Toona sinensis is characterized by several distinct metabolic and structural parameters. It utilizes a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and environmental adaptation strategies. In terms of its structural composition, the plant exhibits a mean stem specific density (SSD) of 591 mg/cm³, reflecting the density and lignification of its woody tissues. Furthermore, Toona sinensis does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on soil nitrogen availability rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria for its nutritional requirements.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

591 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Toona sinensis involves the production of seeds that exhibit specific physical characteristics essential for its dispersal and germination processes. The seed mass of this species shows notable variability, with a measured mean seed mass of 0.005946667 g. Within the observed population, the individual seed masses range from a minimum of 0.00404 g to a maximum of 0.0085 g. These quantitative traits reflect the biological investment in reproductive output, providing a specific profile of the seed dimensions produced during the plant's reproductive cycle.

Seed mass max:

0.0085 g

Seed mass mean:

0.005946667 g

Seed mass min:

0.00404 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Toona sinensis has 3 reported plant parts identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, seed, stem.

Leaf

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. BMC genomic data
5. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters

Seed

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Stem

1. Fitoterapia

Chemicals

Toona sinensis has 49 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Gallic acid, phenylpropanoid, Flavonoid, LIGNIN.

Flavonoids

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Frontiers in plant science

Gallic acid

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters

phenylpropanoid

1. Physiologia plantarum
2. BMC genomic data
3. Acta physiologiae plantarum

Flavonoid

1. Physiologia plantarum
2. BMC genomic data

LIGNIN

1. Natural product research
2. Acta physiologiae plantarum

Phenols

1. Natural product research
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Sesquiterpenes

1. Natural product research
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Sterols

1. Natural product research
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Terpenoids

1. Physiologia plantarum
2. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

quercetin

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Toona sinensis has 11 reported activities identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antiglycation, Antitumor.

Antidiabetic

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antibacterial

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiglycation

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antitumor

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiviral

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Astringent

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Chemopreventive

1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hepatoprotective

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Medicinal Uses

Toona sinensis has 20 reported medicinal uses identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Staphylococcus aureus, cancer, dysentery, enteritis, Escherichia coli.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations