Enantia polycarpa

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• African yellow wood
• yellow-wood

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Melodorum polycarpum
• Xylopia polycarpa
• Xylopicrum polycarpum
• Coelocline polycarpa
• Enantia polycarpa
• Annona polycarpa
• Unona polycarpa

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Magnoliales, it is classified under the family Annonaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identification is placed within the genus Annickia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed throughout the West Tropical Africa region. Specifically, it can be found growing within the borders of Ghana. Its natural habitat also extends into the territories of Guinea and the Ivory Coast. Additionally, the species is documented to exist across Liberia. Finally, its geographical range includes the country of Nigeria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Annickia polycarpa is characterized by its classification as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle within a single year. In terms of its structural growth strategy, the species is categorized as a phanerophyte, specifically functioning as both a phanerophyte and a nanophanerophyte, which indicates that its perennating buds are elevated above the ground level on aerial shoots. This life form enables the plant to maintain its reproductive potential and structural integrity over extended periods within its natural habitat.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Annickia polycarpa is characterized by its significant stature, reaching a mean height of approximately 20 m, with observed maximum heights reaching up to 18.28822238 m. It is categorized as a tree with a woody growth form, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant is strictly terrestrial in its habitat and exhibits a self-supporting climbing habit, meaning it does not rely on other structures as an obligatory vine or liana but maintains its own structural integrity as it grows.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

18.28822238 m

Plant height mean:

20 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Annickia polycarpa is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, meaning it utilizes the Calvin cycle to fix carbon dioxide without the specialized anatomical adaptations found in C4 or CAM plants. This metabolic process involves the direct fixation of CO2 by the enzyme Rubisco within the mesophyll cells. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, lacking the symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a bioavailable form for its growth and development.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Annickia polycarpa 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 leaf, stem.

Leaf

1. Advances in pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences

Stem

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Annickia polycarpa has 3 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antiplasmodial, Cytotoxic.

Antimicrobial

1. Fitoterapia

Antiplasmodial

1. Advances in pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences

Cytotoxic

1. Advances in pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences

Conditions

Annickia polycarpa has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include malaria, trypanosomiasis.

Malaria

1. Advances in pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences

Trypanosomiasis

1. Advances in pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences

Preparations

Annickia polycarpa has 3 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include PEP, crude ethanol extracts, leaf (APLE).

Pep

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Crude ethanol extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Leaf (aple)

1. Advances in pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences