Cantonese wood-oil-tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Cantonese wood-oil-tree
• Chinese tung-oil-tree
• Chinese wood-oil-tree
• abrasin-oil-tree
• mu-oil-tree
• wood-oil-tree
• mu oil tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Aleurites montanus
• Elaeococca montana
• Aleurites vernicius

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Malpighiales and the family Euphorbiaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation is found within the genus Vernicia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning across different continents. In the region of South Tropical Africa, it can be found growing in Angola and Mozambique. Its presence extends significantly into Asia, specifically within the various provinces of China. Within China, it is located in the South-Central and Southeast regions. Additionally, the species is known to inhabit the tropical island of Hainan.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Vernicia montana is closely defined by its specific altitudinal distribution within its native habitats. This species typically occupies a broad elevational gradient, primarily thriving in mid-to-lowland regions. It is most frequently encountered at a mean elevation of approximately 300 m AMSL, though its ecological niche extends across a significant vertical range. The species can be found at lower elevations starting around 400 m AMSL and can ascend to a maximum elevation of 1400 m AMSL, allowing it to inhabit various microclimates and topographical variations within its environmental range.

Elevational range max:

1400 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

300 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

400 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Vernicia montana is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its presence in its ecosystem over multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody stems, a structural adaptation that defines its growth habit and survival strategy. Furthermore, the plant exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, maintaining its foliage throughout the year to maximize photosynthetic activity.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Vernicia montana is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree. As a self-supporting species, it does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, and it exists as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. The plant is strictly terrestrial in its habitat and exhibits significant vertical development, with a plant height that typically ranges from a minimum of 3 meters to a maximum of 15 meters, maintaining an average height of approximately 16 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15 m

Plant height mean:

16 m

Plant height min:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Vernicia montana is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, reflecting its metabolic approach to carbon fixation. Its vegetative structure features leaves that typically exhibit a quinquilobate form with crenate margins, notably lacking any leaf thorns or spines. The foliar dimensions vary, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 8 cm to a maximum of 20 cm, maintaining a mean length of 14 cm, while leaf widths span from 6 cm to a maximum of 18 cm. Regarding its structural composition, the plant possesses a stem specific density (SSD) with a mean value of 367 mg/cm³. Furthermore, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying on external soil nitrogen sources rather than symbiotic nitrogen fixation.

Leaf form :

quinquilobate

Leaf length max:

20 cm

Leaf length mean:

14 cm

Leaf length min:

8 cm

Leaf margin :

crenate

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

18 cm

Leaf width min:

6 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

367 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Vernicia montana is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily facilitated through animal vectors. Specifically, the pollination process involves insects, with bees playing a significant role in the transfer of pollen. The species exhibits a reproductive strategy where self-fertilization is absent, necessitating cross-pollination to ensure genetic diversity. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces fruits with varying dimensions; these fruits typically have a mean width of 4 cm, ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum width of 5 cm.

Fruit width max:

5 cm

Fruit width mean:

4 cm

Fruit width min:

3 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Vernicia montana has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Lignans, Terpenoids.

Lignans

1. Phytochemistry

Terpenoids

1. Phytochemistry