Siamese Yellowleaf

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Siamese Yellowleaf

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Banisterodes affine
• Monnina excelsa
• Banisterodes excelsum
• Xanthophyllum floriferum
• Xanthophyllum excelsum
• Xanthophyllum glandulosum
• Xanthophyllum angustifolium
• Xanthophyllum adenopodum
• Xanthophyllum arnottianum
• Xanthophyllum pallidum
• Xanthophyllum loheri
• Xanthophyllum multiramosum
• Xanthophyllum virescens
• Xanthophyllum obliquum
• Xanthophyllum roxburghianum
• Xanthophyllum sarawakensis
• Xanthophyllum undulatum
• Xanthophyllum siamense
• Xanthophyllum affine
• Jakkia excelsa
• Xanthophyllum obliquum var. viride
• Xanthophyllum excelsum var. affine
• Xanthophyllum flavescens var. angustifolium
• Xanthophyllum geminiflorum
• Xanthophyllum affine var. adenopodum

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Fabales and the family Polygalaceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Xanthophyllum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several key regions in Asia. In China, it is specifically located within the South-Central areas. Its presence is also well-documented throughout the Indian Subcontinent, including India, Bangladesh, and Assam. Furthermore, the species can be found within the Indo-China region, specifically on the Andaman Islands. This wide range highlights the plant's ability to thrive in various subtropical environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Xanthophyllum flavescens is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, meaning it persists through multiple growing seasons and maintains a continuous presence in its natural habitat. As a long-lived woody species, it avoids the rapid turnover seen in annuals or biennials, instead investing energy into sustained structural growth and long-term survival within its ecosystem. Its developmental trajectory involves a transition from initial seedling establishment to a stable, enduring adult phase, where it contributes to the forest canopy over many years. This perennial nature allows the plant to adapt to seasonal environmental shifts and participate in complex ecological cycles, ensuring its long-term reproductive potential and stability within its specific niche.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Xanthophyllum flavescens is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree. As a terrestrial species, it grows independently rather than functioning as a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant is self-supporting in its structure and does not exhibit climbing habits such as a vine or liana. In terms of stature, it is a significant specimen with a height that varies considerably, ranging from a minimum of 8 m to a maximum of 36 m, with an average plant height of approximately 21.6 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

36 m

Plant height mean:

21.6 m

Plant height min:

8 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Xanthophyllum flavescens is characterized by a standard C3 photosynthetic pathway, a process in which carbon fixation occurs directly within the mesophyll cells via the Calvin cycle without the specialized spatial separation seen in C4 or CAM plants. This metabolic approach indicates that the plant relies on the enzyme RuBisCO for initial carbon assimilation, making its efficiency sensitive to temperature and moisture levels. Furthermore, regarding its nutrient acquisition capabilities, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms and must instead rely on the uptake of nitrates or ammonium from the soil substrate.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Xanthophyllum flavescens is characterized by a dispersal syndrome that is primarily zoochorous, meaning its seeds are spread by animals, although the species may also exhibit traits categorized as anemochorous, autochorous, hydrochorous, or unspecialized depending on environmental conditions. The plant produces fleshy fruits, which serve as a nutritional resource to facilitate this animal-mediated dispersal. Regarding the progeny, the seeds are remarkably uniform in size, maintaining a consistent seed volume with a minimum, maximum, and mean value of exactly 16 mm³.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Seed volume max:

16 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Xanthophyllum flavescens has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiplasmodial.

Antiplasmodial

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Conditions

Xanthophyllum flavescens has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Plasmodium falciparum.

Plasmodium falciparum

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Preparations

Xanthophyllum flavescens has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include sb.

Sb

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology