Upas tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• sackingtree
• upastree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cestrum toxicarium
• Mithridatea toxicaria
• Ipo toxicaria

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Under the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized into the order Rosales and the family Moraceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Antiaris, specifically as the species Antiaris toxicaria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Antiaris toxicaria, is widely distributed across several nations within the West Tropical Africa region. It can be found growing in the diverse landscapes of Benin and Burkina. Furthermore, its presence extends to the coastal and inland areas of Gambia. The species also inhabits significant portions of Ghana. Finally, its geographical range reaches into Guinea-Bissau, completing its regional footprint.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Antiaris toxicaria is characterized by its preference for moist forest environments, specifically occurring within relictual forest habitats. These specialized ecosystems provide the stable, high-humidity conditions and buffered microclimates necessary for its growth. By inhabiting these moist forest relicts, the species occupies specific ecological niches that are often remnants of broader, once-contiguous forest tracts, making its distribution closely tied to the preservation of these unique, moisture-retaining woodland fragments.

Habitat :

moist forest (-relicts)

Life history

The life history of Antiaris toxicaria is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, ensuring its long-term presence within its ecological niche. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic buds well above the ground, typically manifesting as a large woody tree. Its growth pattern is further defined by being deciduous, meaning it undergoes a seasonal shedding of its foliage.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Antiaris toxicaria is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree. It is a terrestrial species that functions as an independent organism, rather than acting as a parasite or an epiphyte. This tree is notable for its significant stature, reaching a minimum height of 10 meters, with a mean height of approximately 35.5 meters, and can attain a maximum height of up to 45 meters. In terms of its structural habit, it is categorized as a self-supporting plant rather than a liana or vine.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

45 m

Plant height mean:

35.5 m

Plant height min:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Antiaris toxicaria is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a standard carbon fixation process typical of many tropical woody species. The plant exhibits specific vegetative structural parameters, including a leaf morphology that is elliptic in form with finely toothed margins and an absence of both thorns and spines. The leaves demonstrate significant variability in size, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 7 cm to a maximum of 19 cm (averaging 13.3 cm), and widths ranging from 3 cm to 6 cm (averaging 4.95 cm). These leaves are notably thin, with a mean thickness of 0.028 mm, and possess a consistent Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 117.8833922 cm²/g across minimum, mean, and maximum measurements. The plant does not exhibit succulence and does not function as a nitrogen fixer. Furthermore, its structural integrity is supported by a stem specific density (SSD) with a mean value of 438 mg/cm³.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

19 cm

Leaf length mean:

13.3 cm

Leaf length min:

7 cm

Leaf margin :

finely toothed

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thickness mean:

0.028 mm

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

6 cm

Leaf width mean:

4.95 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) min:

117.8833922 cm²/g

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

438 mg/cm³

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Antiaris toxicaria is characterized by a specific phenological cycle and specialized seed morphology. The flowering period typically begins in February and concludes in March, though the timing can be variable across different months. Following pollination, the plant produces fleshy fruits, which facilitate the dispersal of its seeds. The dispersal syndrome is identified as anthropochorous, indicating human-mediated movement. The seeds themselves exhibit significant morphological variation: they possess a mean mass of approximately 0.69 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.57 g to a maximum of 0.83 g. In terms of dimensions, the seeds have a mean length of 7.3 mm, a maximum width of 6.2 mm, and a maximum height of 5 mm. The seed volume varies considerably, with a minimum of 460 mm³, a mean of 1520 mm³, and a maximum reaching up to 2100 mm³.

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flowering time :

Feb

Flowering time :

Mar

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Seed height max:

5 mm

Seed length mean:

7.3 mm

Seed mass max:

0.83333 g

Seed mass mean:

0.690586666666667 g

Seed mass min:

0.57143 g

Seed volume max:

2100 mm³

Seed volume mean:

1520 mm³

Seed volume min:

460 mm³

Seed width max:

6.2 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Antiaris toxicaria 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 seed.

Seed

1. Planta medica

Chemicals

Antiaris toxicaria has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Cardiac Glycosides, GLUCOSTROPHALLOSIDE.

Cardiac Glycosides

1. BMC genomic data

GLUCOSTROPHALLOSIDE

1. Planta medica

Activities

Antiaris toxicaria has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic.

Cytotoxic

1. Planta medica

Preparations

Antiaris toxicaria has 3 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanol extracts, ethanolic extract, latex.

Ethanol extracts

1. Tanzania journal of health research

Ethanolic extract

1. Planta medica

Latex

1. BMC genomic data