Green-stem

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ophiocaulon gummifer
• Modecca gummifera

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Malpighiales and the family Passifloraceae, it is classified under the genus Adenia. Specifically, the species is identified as Adenia gummifera.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across the various regions of Northeast and East Tropical Africa. Within Northeast Tropical Africa, it can be found growing in the territories of Ethiopia and Somalia. Its range extends southward into East Tropical Africa, where it is present in Kenya. Additionally, the species inhabits the landscape of Tanzania. Finally, its geographical presence is also documented within the borders of Uganda.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Adenia gummifera is characterized by its ability to inhabit diverse environmental settings, ranging from dry forests to moist forests and within moist bushland habitats. This plant exhibits a broad vertical distribution across various landscapes, occupying an elevational range that begins as low as 50 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum altitude of 1650 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1650 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

50 m AMSL

Habitat :

dry or moist forest, in moist bushland

Life history

The life history of Adenia gummifera is characterized by its nature as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. As a perennial species, it does not complete its life cycle within a single year or two but instead maintains a long-term presence, often developing substantial woody structures or specialized storage organs that support its survival through fluctuating environmental conditions. This prolonged lifecycle enables the plant to invest in complex physiological processes, such as the production of its characteristic gum and the maturation of its reproductive structures, which are essential for its long-term survival and successful propagation within its ecological niche.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Adenia gummifera is characterized by a woody growth form that primarily manifests as a shrub. As an independent organism, it does not function as a parasite and maintains a terrestrial existence rather than being aquatic or epiphytic. The plant exhibits climbing behavior, specifically functioning as an obligatory liana. In terms of its physical dimensions, it displays significant variability in stature, with plant heights ranging from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 30 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 17.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

30 m

Plant height mean:

17.5 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Adenia gummifera is characterized by specialized metabolic processes adapted to arid environments, focusing on efficient resource management and structural resilience. One significant physiological aspect is its relationship with soil nutrient cycling; specifically, regarding its capacity for atmospheric nitrogen assimilation, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer. Unlike many legumes that form symbiotic relationships with rhizobia to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, Adenia gummifera relies on the uptake of available nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system. Its metabolic pathways are optimized for the production of complex polysaccharides, which constitute its characteristic gum, serving as both a storage mechanism and a physiological defense against desiccation. Furthermore, its water-use efficiency is governed by specialized stomatal control and succulent tissues that manage osmotic potential, allowing the plant to maintain cellular turgor and metabolic activity despite fluctuating moisture availability in its natural habitat.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Adenia gummifera involves the production of seeds characterized by a highly consistent and specific physical profile. The seed mass for this species shows no variance across measured samples, maintaining a uniform value where the seed mass mean, maximum, and minimum are all recorded at exactly 0.01025 g. This precise uniformity in seed mass suggests a stabilized reproductive strategy, ensuring that each individual seed carries a standardized amount of nutrient reserves essential for the initial stages of seedling development and germination.

Seed mass mean:

0.01025 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Adenia gummifera has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, stem.

Root

1. African journal of health sciences

Stem

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Chemicals

Adenia gummifera has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include IRON, Proanthocyanidins, flavonols.

IRON

1. African journal of health sciences

Proanthocyanidins

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

flavonols

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Conditions

Adenia gummifera has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include depression.

Depression

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Preparations

Adenia gummifera has 4 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include decoctions, methanol extracts of the stems, rootbarks, stem extract.

Decoctions

1. African journal of health sciences

Methanol extracts of the stems

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Rootbarks

1. African journal of health sciences

Stem extract

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine