Albinoberry

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Albinoberry
• Malagasy tea
• Mountain-Peach

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Aphloia theiformis var. minima
• Aphloia mauritiana var. theiformis
• Prockia integrifolia
• Prockia theiformis
• Neumannia minima
• Neumannia madagascariensis
• Neumannia integrifolia
• Aphloia mauritiana var. integrifolia
• Prockia ovata
• Aphloia madagascariensis var. polymorpha
• Aphloia madagascariensis
• Aphloia madagascariensis var. seychellensis
• Aphloia mauritiana var. sessilifolia
• Aphloia theiformis var. racemosa
• Aphloia theiformis f. tsaratananae
• Guidonia serrata
• Aphloia deltoides
• Aphloia integrifolia
• Neumannia deltoidea
• Neumannia theiformis
• Neumannia myrtiflora
• Prockia laciniata
• Aphloia minima
• Aphloia myrtiflora
• Aphloia sessilifolia
• Prockia deltoides
• Aphloia seychellensis
• Aphloia theiformis f. andringitrensis
• Lightfootia integrifolia
• Aphloia theiformis var. angustissima
• Lightfootia theiformis
• Aphloia theiformis var. caerulescens
• Ludia heterophylla
• Aphloia theiformis var. closii
• Guya integrifolia
• Aphloia theiformis subsp. deltoides
• Aphloia theiformis subsp. laciniata
• Aphloia theiformis subsp. madagascariensis
• Aphloia theiformis var. micrantha
• Aphloia theiformis var. micranthera
• Aphloia theiformis f. obcuneata
• Aphloia theiformis var. purpurascens
• Aphloia theiformis var. seychellensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is classified under the order Crossosomatales and is a member of the family Aphloiaceae. Within this family, it is specifically identified by the genus Aphloia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across the African continent. In East Tropical Africa, its presence is noted in the countries of Kenya and Tanzania. Moving toward the southern regions, it is also found within South Tropical Africa. Specifically, the species inhabits the territories of Malawi and Mozambique. Finally, its range extends into the country of Zimbabwe.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Aphloia theiiformis is characterized by its ability to inhabit diverse montane environments, spanning a significant vertical gradient within its native habitat. This species thrives across a broad altitudinal spectrum, typically occurring at elevations ranging from a minimum of 380 m AMSL to a maximum of 1730 m AMSL. This wide elevational range suggests a high degree of ecological plasticity, allowing the plant to adapt to varying temperature regimes, moisture levels, and atmospheric pressures found from lower montane slopes up to higher altitude cloud forests or sub-alpine zones. Such a distribution indicates that the species can occupy various niches within its ecosystem, playing a role in both lower-altitude shrublands and higher-elevation forest structures.

Elevational range max:

1730 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

380 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Aphloia theiformis is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over many years rather than completing its cycle in a single season. Throughout its long life, the plant maintains an evergreen habit, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and present across different seasons rather than shedding leaves seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Aphloia theiformis is characterized by a woody growth form, primarily developing as a self-supporting tree. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic or epiphytic tendencies and functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite. The plant reaches a significant stature, with its height typically ranging from a minimum of 2 meters to a maximum of 10 meters, maintaining an average height of approximately 10 meters. Its structural habit is defined by its robust, woody nature, allowing it to maintain a self-supporting upright posture without the need for climbing or liana-like behavior.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

10 m

Plant height min:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Aphloia theiiformis is characterized by a standard C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing the Calvin cycle to fix carbon dioxide during the light-independent reactions. In terms of nutrient acquisition and metabolic nitrogen cycling, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrates and ammonium from the soil rather than establishing symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Aphloia theiformis is characterized by the production of fruit classified as a berry, which is notably indehiscent. These fruits possess an average length of 1.05 cm and an average width of 0.85 cm. The seeds contained within the fruit are relatively small, exhibiting a mean mass of 0.0046775 g, with individual seed weights ranging from a minimum of 0.00365 g to a maximum of 0.00725 g. Furthermore, the seed volume remains consistent at a value of 0.64 mm³, representing both the minimum and maximum measurements as well as the mean. To facilitate the spread of its progeny, the plant employs a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on animals to aid in the movement of its seeds.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit length mean:

1.05 cm

Fruit type :

berry

Fruit width mean:

0.85 cm

Seed mass max:

0.00725 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0046775 g

Seed mass min:

0.00365 g

Seed volume max:

0.64 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Aphloia theiformis has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CHLOROGENIC ACID, Gallic acid, Mangiferin, kaempferol, quercetin.

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Gallic acid

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Mangiferin

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

kaempferol

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

quercetin

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Activities

Aphloia theiformis has 4 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimalarial, Antioxidant, Cytotoxic, Hypolipidemic.

Antimalarial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hypolipidemic

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Medicinal Uses

Aphloia theiformis has 12 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include oxidative stress, Plasmodium berghei, Plasmodium falciparum, ZIKV, Zika virus.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations