cedar mangrove

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• cedar mangrove
• Cannonball mangrove

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Monosoma littorata
• Xylocarpus mekongensis
• Xylocarpus australasicus
• Xylocarpus parvifolius
• Granatum moluccense
• Guarea oblongifolia
• Carapa moluccensis var. gangetica
• Carapa borneensis
• Carapa moluccensis var. elliptica
• Xylocarpus moluccensis var. ellipticus
• Xylocarpus moluccensis var. gangeticus
• Carapa moluccensis var. ovalifolia
• Carapa obovata var. microphylla
• Xylocarpus gangeticus
• Carapa mekongensis
• Xylocarpus obovatus var. microphyllus
• Carapa moluccensis

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Xylocarpus moluccensis, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae within the order Sapindales. Ultimately, it is a member of the family Meliaceae and is categorized under the genus Xylocarpus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several key regions in Africa and the Indian Ocean. In Northeast Tropical Africa, its presence can be found within the borders of Somalia. Moving further south along the coast, it is distributed throughout East Tropical Africa, specifically in Kenya and Tanzania. The species also extends into South Tropical Africa, where it is located in Mozambique. Finally, its range reaches into the Western Indian Ocean, specifically on the island of Aldabra.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Xylocarpus moluccensis is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to establish a long-term presence within its coastal mangrove habitats. As a robust woody plant, it maintains a consistent structural presence through its evergreen habit, ensuring that it retains its foliage throughout the year rather than undergoing seasonal shedding. This continuous leaf cover supports its long-term physiological processes and adaptation to the fluctuating environmental conditions of intertidal zones.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Xylocarpus moluccensis is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically existing as a self-supporting tree. As a terrestrial species, it functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant exhibits significant vertical development, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 4 meters to a maximum of 18 meters, maintaining a mean height of approximately 10 meters. Unlike climbing plants such as vines or lianas, this species is entirely self-supporting in its structural development.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

18 m

Plant height mean:

10 m

Plant height min:

4 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Xylocarpus moluccensis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and energy conversion efficiency within its specific ecological niche. Unlike many halophytic species that exhibit specialized water-storage adaptations, this plant does not possess succulence, relying instead on other physiological mechanisms to manage osmotic stress and water regulation. Furthermore, Xylocarpus moluccensis does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, necessitating its reliance on available soil nitrogen sources for growth and metabolic maintenance.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Xylocarpus moluccensis is characterized by a specialized biological process involving biotic pollination and hydrochorous dispersal. The pollination syndrome is primarily biotic, relying on various animal vectors, specifically involving insects and bees to facilitate fertilization. Following successful pollination, the plant produces seeds with a highly consistent mass, recorded at a mean, minimum, and maximum of 24.49 g. The dispersal of these seeds is strictly hydrochorous, meaning they are adapted to be transported by water currents, a trait that is consistent across its dispersal syndromes.

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass mean:

24.49 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Xylocarpus moluccensis has 9 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Angolensic acid methyl ester, Flavonoids, Godavarin J, Moluccensin V, Tannins.

Angolensic acid methyl ester

1. Computational biology and chemistry

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Godavarin J

1. Computational biology and chemistry

Moluccensin V

1. Computational biology and chemistry

Tannins

1. Nutrients

Terpenes

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Terpenoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Thaixylomolin F

1. Computational biology and chemistry

Xylomexicanolide A

1. Computational biology and chemistry

Activities

Xylocarpus moluccensis has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antineoplastic.

Antineoplastic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Xylocarpus moluccensis has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include SARS-CoV-2, diarrhea, dysentery, fever.

Sars-cov-2

1. Computational biology and chemistry

Diarrhea

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Dysentery

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fever

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Xylocarpus moluccensis has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include methanolic extracts.

Methanolic extracts

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM