Wild custard-apple

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• wild custard-apple
• Rope

Scientific Names

Accepted name

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 class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae and order Magnoliales, it is a member of the family Annonaceae. Ultimately, Annona senehalensis is categorized under the genus Annona.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several distinct regions of the African continent. In the Macaronesian region, its presence is specifically noted in Cape Verde. Moving to West Tropical Africa, it can be found growing within the borders of Benin. The species also inhabits the landscapes of Burkina and the Gambia. Finally, its range extends further along the coast to include Ghana.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Annona senegalensis is characterized by its ability to thrive across a diverse topographical spectrum, spanning an elevational range from 15 m to 1538 m AMSL. This species is typically found occupying various ecological niches, including wooded grasslands, woodlands, and secondary bushlands. It demonstrates a particular preference for specific geological and topographical conditions, commonly establishing itself on hillsides and within sandy soil compositions.

Elevational range max:

1538 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

15 m AMSL

Habitat :

wooded grassland, woodland, secondary bushland, mainly hillsides and sandy soils

Life history

The life history of Annona senegalensis is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated structures, specifically manifesting as a phanerophyte that contributes to its structural complexity within its habitat. Its physiological rhythm is marked by being deciduous, meaning it undergoes a seasonal shedding of its leaves, a strategy often employed to manage moisture levels and environmental stress during specific periods of the year.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Annona senegalensis is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. As a self-supporting species, it does not exhibit climbing behavior such as a vine or liana. The plant's stature is variable, with recorded heights ranging from a minimum of 1.5 m to a maximum of 8 m, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 4.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

8 m

Plant height mean:

4.5 m

Plant height min:

1.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Annona senegalensis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, meaning it utilizes the Calvin cycle to fix carbon dioxide through the enzyme RuBisCO, typically functioning most efficiently in environments with moderate light and temperature. As a non-nitrogen fixing species, the plant lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria required for biological nitrogen fixation, necessitating the uptake of available soil nitrates and ammonium to meet its nutritional requirements for growth and secondary metabolite production.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Annona senegalensis is driven by complex biotic interactions involving specific pollination and dispersal syndromes. The pollination process is characterized by a biotic syndrome, primarily mediated by insects, with a specific emphasis on beetle pollination. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces fleshy fruits that facilitate reproduction through a zoochorous dispersal strategy. Specifically, the dispersal is endozoochorous, meaning the seeds are ingested and dispersed by animals. The seeds themselves are relatively small, with a mean mass of approximately 0.119585 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.11632 g to a maximum of 0.12642 g) and a consistent seed volume of 370 mm³.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

beetle

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.12642 g

Seed mass mean:

0.119585 g

Seed mass min:

0.11632 g

Seed volume max:

370 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Annona senegalensis has 6 reported plant parts identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, seed, root, stem, flower.

Leaf

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Life (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Journal of arthropod-borne diseases
5. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Seed

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Planta medica
3. Natural product research
4. Phytochemistry

Root

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. African health sciences
3. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Stem

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Journal of natural products

Flower

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Fruit

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Chemicals

Annona senegalensis has 27 reported phytochemicals identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Saponins, Terpenoids, (+)-Nornantenine, (+)-Syringaresinol.

Flavonoids

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Journal of helminthology

Saponins

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Journal of helminthology

Terpenoids

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Life (Basel, Switzerland)

(+)-Nornantenine

1. Natural product research

(+)-Syringaresinol

1. Journal of natural products

(+)-catechin

1. Natural product research

(-)-ASIMILOBINE

1. Natural product research

(-)-Anonaine

1. Natural product research

ABTS

1. Pharmaceutical biology

ACETOGENINS

1. Planta medica

Activities

Annona senegalensis has 11 reported activities identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, Antimalarial, Cytotoxic, Anthelmintic.

Antioxidant

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Pharmaceutical biology
3. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
4. Tropical medicine and health

Antidiabetic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Tropical medicine and health

Antimalarial

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Phytochemistry

Anthelmintic

1. Veterinary parasitology

Anticancer

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Antifungal

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Antimicrobial

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Antiprotozoal

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Anxiolytic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Annona senegalensis has 21 reported medicinal uses identified across 17 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include mental disorders, leishmaniasis, malaria, Brain Tumor, Leishmania donovani.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations