Dhundal tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• apple mangrove
• cannonball mangrove
• cannonball-tree
• cedar mangrove
• Mangrove Mahogany
• Dhundal tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Amoora salomoniensis
• Xylocarpus obovatus
• Xylocarpus carnulosus
• Xylocarpus benadirensis
• Xylocarpus minor
• Carapa obovata
• Carapa carnuosula
• Carapa granatum
• Xylocarpus obovatus var. macrophyllus
• Granatum obovatum

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 the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Sapindales and the family Meliaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Xylocarpus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across several distinct regions of the African continent. In Northeast Tropical Africa, its presence is noted specifically in Somalia. Moving further south, it is found throughout East Tropical Africa in both Kenya and Tanzania. The species also extends into South Tropical Africa, where it inhabits Mozambique. Finally, its range reaches into Southern Africa, specifically within the KwaZulu-Natal region.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Xylocarpus granatum is characterized by its specialized adaptation to coastal environments, specifically thriving within halophytic vegetation. This species is strictly limited to low-lying coastal zones, occupying a narrow vertical niche with an elevational range extending from a minimum of 1 m AMSL to a maximum of 10 m AMSL. Its presence is fundamentally tied to saline or brackish ecosystems, where it functions as a key component of the specialized flora capable of tolerating high salt concentrations and tidal influences.

Elevational range max:

10 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1 m AMSL

Habitat :

halophytic vegetation

Life history

The life history of Xylocarpus granatum is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to establish a long-term presence within its coastal and mangrove habitats. Throughout its development, the plant maintains an evergreen habit, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and lush across different seasons rather than shedding leaves in a deciduous manner. This combination of a long-lived perennial lifecycle and consistent evergreen foliage enables the plant to effectively navigate the fluctuating environmental conditions of its ecological niche.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Xylocarpus granatum is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that functions as a self-supporting structure rather than a climber or liana. As an independent organism, it does not exhibit parasitic behavior and is classified as a terrestrial plant rather than an aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic species. The plant's stature is substantial, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 4 meters to a maximum of 20 meters, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 10 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Plant height mean:

10 m

Plant height min:

4 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Xylocarpus granatum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation process and metabolic efficiency within its specific ecological niche. Unlike many other tropical woody species, it does not exhibit succulence, meaning it lacks specialized thickened tissues for significant water storage in its leaves or stems. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on the availability of nitrogen within the surrounding substrate rather than establishing symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Xylocarpus granatum is characterized by a highly specialized dispersal mechanism and significant seed dimensions. The plant exhibits a hydrochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning its seeds are adapted for transport by water currents, which is a common evolutionary trait for species inhabiting mangrove or coastal environments. In terms of seed morphology, the species produces relatively large seeds, with a recorded mean seed mass of 83.333 g. This mass is consistent across the observed samples, as both the minimum and maximum seed mass values are documented at exactly 83.333 g, indicating a high level of uniformity in the size and weight of the reproductive units produced by the plant.

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Seed mass mean:

83.333 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Xylocarpus granatum has 3 reported plant parts identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, seed, leaf.

Fruit

1. Journal of natural products
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
3. Fitoterapia
4. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Seed

1. Fitoterapia
2. Organic letters
3. Journal of natural products
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Leaf

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Planta medica
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Xylocarpus granatum has 40 reported phytochemicals identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include gedunin, Photogedunin, (+)-catechin, 4-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID, 6alpha,11beta-Diacetoxygedunin.

gedunin

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Apoptosis : an international journal on programmed cell death
3. Natural product research

Photogedunin

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Natural product research

(+)-catechin

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

4-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

6alpha,11beta-Diacetoxygedunin

1. Fitoterapia

ABSCISIC ACID

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Aurantiamide acetate

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

COMPOUND 23

1. Fitoterapia

Compound 25

1. Fitoterapia

Daucosterol

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Activities

Xylocarpus granatum has 9 reported activities identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antidiabetic, Antifeedant, Antifungal, Antimalarial.

Anticancer

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Apoptosis : an international journal on programmed cell death

Antidiabetic

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antifeedant

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antifungal

1. Apoptosis : an international journal on programmed cell death

Antimalarial

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antimicrobial

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antioxidant

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Gastroprotective

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Neuroprotective

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Conditions

Xylocarpus granatum has 11 reported investigations on conditions identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include malaria, cholera, diarrhea, duodenal ulcer, dysentery.

Malaria

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Natural product research

Cholera

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Diarrhea

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Duodenal ulcer

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Dysentery

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Fever

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Gastric ulcer

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Inflammation

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Ovarian cancer

1. Apoptosis : an international journal on programmed cell death

Peptic ulcer

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Preparations

Xylocarpus granatum has 6 reported preparations identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include seeds, Chloroform fraction (Fr-CHCl(3)), Seeds, dried husks (HX), dried leaves (LX).

Seeds

1. Fitoterapia
2. Organic letters
3. Journal of natural products

Chloroform fraction (fr-chcl(3))

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Seeds

1. Journal of natural products

Dried husks (hx)

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Dried leaves (lx)

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Dried seeds (sx)

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology