African ansellia

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• African Ansellia
• Leopard Orchid
• Monkey Sugarcane
• Mopane Orchid
• Tree Orchid
• Leopard Orchid / African Ansellia
• Mopani Orchid
• Mopani Orchis
• The Monkey's Cane

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cymbidium sandersonii
• Ansellia africana subsp. australis
• Ansellia africana var. australis
• Ansellia africana var. nilotica
• Ansellia confusa
• Ansellia congoensis
• Ansellia gigantea
• Ansellia gigantea subsp. nilotica
• Ansellia gigantea var. nilotica
• Ansellia humilis
• Ansellia nilotica

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, placing it within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified under the order Asparagales and the family Orchidaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Ansellia, specifically as the species Ansellia africana.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across the West Tropical Africa region. Specifically, it can be found growing within the borders of Benin. Its presence extends to the coastal and inland areas of Ghana as well. Furthermore, the species is documented to inhabit the territories of Guinea-Bissau and Ivory Coast. Finally, its geographical range includes the nation of Liberia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Ansellia africanica is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons within its natural habitat. As a perennial species, it maintains a long-term presence in the ecosystem, often developing robust structures to survive periods of environmental fluctuation. This extended lifespan enables the plant to engage in multiple reproductive cycles over time, contributing to its stability and continued propagation within its specific ecological niche.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ansellia africana is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. It is a terrestrial plant that functions independently, rather than acting as a parasite, and it is classified as an obligatory epiphyte. In terms of stature, the plant is self-supporting rather than acting as a vine or liana, with its height typically ranging from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of approximately 1.52 m, with an average height of 0.8 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

obligatory

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.524018532 m

Plant height mean:

0.8 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Ansellia africana has 9 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include EICOSANE, HENEICOSANE, HEPTADECANE, L-Ascorbyl 2,6-Dipalmitate, N-BUTYL ACETATE.

EICOSANE

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

HENEICOSANE

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

HEPTADECANE

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

L-Ascorbyl 2,6-Dipalmitate

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

N-BUTYL ACETATE

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

P-CRESOL

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

STYRENE

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

linoleic acid

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

linolenic acid

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Ansellia africana has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include essential oil.

Essential oil

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)