Mountain Tallow

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Mountain Tallow

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Excoecaria lanceolaria
• Stillingia cochinchinensis
• Shirakia cochinchinensis
• Sapium discolor
• Stillingia discolor
• Stillingia lanceolaria
• Sapium discolor var. wenhsienensis
• Sapium eugeniifolium
• Sapium hookeri
• Sapium laui

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Malpighiales. Finally, it is a member of the family Euphorbiaceae within the genus Triadica.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several key regions in Asia. Within China, its presence is noted in the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan areas. It is also found in the island territory of Taiwan, which is part of Eastern Asia. Furthermore, the species extends into the Indian Subcontinent, specifically within the state of Assam. These varied locations highlight the diverse ecological range inhabited by Triadica cochinchinensis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Triadica cochinchinensis is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to establish long-term presence within its ecosystem. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated branches, a structural life form that facilitates its growth into a substantial woody stature. The plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage seasonally as part of its biological rhythm.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Triadica cochinchinensis is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree. This species exhibits significant variation in size, with plant heights ranging from a minimum of 3 m to a maximum of 24 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 11.5 m. It is a terrestrial plant that grows independently, functioning without parasitic or epiphytic dependencies. Although it possesses a self-supporting structure, its growth habit is categorized as self-supporting rather than as a climbing vine or liana.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

24 m

Plant height mean:

11.5 m

Plant height min:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Triadica cochinchinensis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a metabolic process optimized for standard light and temperature conditions. Its vegetative structure features elliptic leaves with entire margins and an absence of thorns or spines. The leaf morphology exhibits significant variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 10 cm (averaging 7 cm) and leaf widths ranging from 2.5 cm to 5 cm (averaging 3.75 cm). The leaf efficiency and resource allocation are reflected in a consistent Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 211.4545032 cm²/g, a value recorded across its minimum, mean, and maximum parameters. Furthermore, the plant possesses a stem specific density (SSD) of 427 mg/cm³, providing insight into the structural density and support mechanisms of its woody tissue.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length mean:

7 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

5 cm

Leaf width mean:

3.75 cm

Leaf width min:

2.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) min:

211.4545032 cm²/g

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

427 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Triadicca cochinchinensis is characterized by specific morphological parameters in its flowering and fruiting stages. The plant produces inflorescences that vary in length, ranging from a minimum of 0.04 m to a maximum of 0.09 m. The resulting fruits exhibit a width that typically fluctuates between 1 cm and 1.5 cm, with an average fruit width of 1.25 cm. Within these fruits, the seeds are remarkably uniform in size, possessing a consistent mass of 0.0466 g, which serves as both the minimum and maximum recorded seed mass. Regarding the movement of its progeny, the species follows a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on animals to aid in the distribution of its seeds across the environment.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit width max:

1.5 cm

Fruit width mean:

1.25 cm

Fruit width min:

1 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.09 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.04 m

Seed mass mean:

0.0466 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Triadica cochinchinensis has 2 reported plant parts identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem.

Leaf

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Journal of natural products
3. Fitoterapia

Stem

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Journal of natural products
3. Fitoterapia

Chemicals

Triadica cochinchinensis has 13 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (-)-Gallocatechin gallate, 3,3',4'-tri-o-methylellagic acid, 3,3'-Di-O-methylellagic acid, 5,6,7,8-Tetramethoxycoumarin, 6,7,8-Trimethoxycoumarin.

(-)-Gallocatechin gallate

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

3,3',4'-tri-o-methylellagic acid

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

3,3'-Di-O-methylellagic acid

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

5,6,7,8-Tetramethoxycoumarin

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

6,7,8-Trimethoxycoumarin

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

7-Hydroxy-8-methoxycoumarin

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

ABSCISIC ACID

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

Ciwujiatone

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

Fraxetin

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

Fraxidin

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

Preparations

Triadica cochinchinensis has 3 reported preparations identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include 95% ethanol extract, ethanol extract, honey.

95% ethanol extract

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

Ethanol extract

1. Journal of natural products

Honey

1. Frontiers in immunology