Utania racemosa

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Willughbeia racemosa
• Fagraea racemosa var. grandis
• Fagraea malayana
• Fagraea racemosa
• Fagraea thwaitesii
• Willughbeia volubilis

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Gentianales and the family Gentianaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Utania.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is native to the expansive Indo-China region. Its presence can be documented across several distinct nations within this territory. Specifically, it is found growing in the landscapes of Cambodia and Laos. The species also has a recorded distribution throughout Myanmar and Thailand. Finally, its geographical reach extends into the country of Vietnam.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Utania racemosa is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years and maintains its biological functions through multiple growing seasons. As a perennial species, it does not complete its life cycle in a single season like annuals or biennials, but instead establishes a robust presence within its ecosystem, allowing for sustained growth and repeated reproductive efforts over time. This long-term survival strategy enables the plant to endure varying environmental conditions and invest significant energy into its structural development and seasonal flowering cycles.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Utania racemosa is characterized by its stature as a woody tree that exhibits a significant range in plant height, typically reaching a minimum of 1 m and a maximum of 40 m, with an average height of approximately 15 m. As a terrestrial organism, it is neither aquatic nor semiaquatic, nor does it function as an epiphyte, maintaining an independent growth habit rather than relying on other plants for support or as a parasite. The plant is self-supporting in its structural growth, lacking the climbing mechanisms of a vine or liana, and possesses a robust, woody composition.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

40 m

Plant height mean:

15 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Utania racemosa is characterized by its specific metabolic and nutritional processes, most notably its carbon fixation mechanism. The plant utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a process where the first stable intermediate produced during carbon fixation is a three-carbon molecule, typically occurring under standard atmospheric conditions. Furthermore, in terms of its nutrient acquisition and symbiotic relationships, Utania racemosa is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized physiological ability to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable biological form through symbiotic associations with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Utania racemosa is primarily driven by biotic mechanisms, indicating a highly specialized evolutionary strategy for genetic exchange. The plant employs a biotic pollination syndrome, relying on living organisms rather than abiotic factors like wind or water to facilitate the transfer of pollen. Specifically, the pollination process is dominated by insects, which serve as the key vectors for fertilization. This insect-mediated pollination is diverse in nature, involving a variety of pollinators that visit the flowers to ensure successful reproductive success. Consequently, the reproductive cycle is intricately linked to the presence and activity of local insect populations, making the plant dependent on these biological agents for its continued propagation.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Utania racemosa has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (+)-Epipinoresinol, (+)-Isolariciresinol, (+)-Lariciresinol, (+)-Pinoresinol, SYRINGALDEHYDE.

(+)-Epipinoresinol

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

(+)-Isolariciresinol

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

(+)-Lariciresinol

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

(+)-Pinoresinol

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

SYRINGALDEHYDE

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin