guin-guin

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• guin-guin
• Nigerian powder-flask-fruit

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Limonia warneckei
• Citrus paniculata
• Aegle barteri
• Balsamocitrus paniculata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Afraegle paniculata, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae within the order Sapindales. Finally, it is a member of the family Rutaceae and the genus Afraegle.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is found exclusively within the West Tropical Africa region. Its natural range extends through the country of Benin. It is also widely distributed across Burkina Faso. Furthermore, the species can be located in Ghana and Guinea-Bissau. Finally, its geographical presence includes the nation of Guinea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Afragele paniculata is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its long-term presence within its ecological niche. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody stems, a structural strategy that allows it to maintain its stature and survive various environmental conditions. This species exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its foliage throughout the year rather than shedding it seasonally, providing a continuous photosynthetic capacity. Its developmental trajectory and physical structure are defined by these phanerophytic traits, allowing it to establish a stable and enduring life cycle.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Afraegle paniculata is characterized by its stature as a substantial tree, exhibiting a woody structure that supports its significant size. It functions as a self-supporting organism, neither acting as a climber nor requiring external support such as a liana or vine. As an independent species, it does not exhibit parasitic behavior and is strictly terrestrial in its habitat, rather than being aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic. In terms of vertical development, the plant reaches an average height of 12 m, with the potential to attain a maximum height of approximately 15.24 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15.24018532 m

Plant height mean:

12 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Afragegle paniculata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, meaning it utilizes the Calvin cycle to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide through the enzyme RuBisCO without the specialized carbon-concentrating mechanisms found in C4 or CAM plants. This metabolic strategy implies that the plant's carbon assimilation is highly dependent on stomatal conductance and is susceptible to photorespiration under high-temperature or low-moisture conditions. Furthermore, the species is not a nitrogen fixer, indicating that it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, such as Rhizobia, required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, and thus relies on the uptake of nitrates or ammonium present in the soil substrate to satisfy its nutritional requirements.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Afragele paniculata is characterized by the development of fleshy fruits that serve as the primary vessel for its progeny. The seeds produced by this species exhibit highly consistent physical dimensions, with a measured seed volume that remains constant at 1200 mm³. In terms of mass, the seeds are uniform in weight, maintaining a mean, minimum, and maximum seed mass of 0.24044 g. This combination of a fleshy fruit structure and specific seed metrics defines the reproductive output and dispersal potential of the plant.

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Seed mass mean:

0.24044 g

Seed volume max:

1200 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Afraegle paniculata has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include stem.

Stem

1. Planta medica

Chemicals

Afraegle paniculata has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include N-trans-p-coumaroyltyramine.

N-trans-p-coumaroyltyramine

1. Planta medica

Preparations

Afraegle paniculata has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include methanol extract.

Methanol extract

1. Planta medica