Bombax buonopozense

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant, Bombax buonopozense, is widely distributed throughout the West Tropical Africa region. Its presence is documented across several specific countries, including Benin and Gambia. Additionally, the species can be found within the borders of Ghana and Guinea. The geographical range also extends into the Ivory Coast. These locations highlight the importance of this medicinal plant within the West African ecosystem.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Bombax buonopolense is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a long-term presence within its ecological niche. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its buds well above the ground level, typically in the form of a large tree, which protects its reproductive and vegetative structures from seasonal environmental stressors. This phanerophyte life form ensures that its primary biomass and growing points remain elevated, facilitating its structural development and reproductive success over many years.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Bombax buonopoezense is characterized by its substantial stature and robust structural development. It is a large, woody tree that functions as a self-supporting organism, requiring no external support such as lianas or vines. As an independent species, it does not exhibit parasitic or epiphytic behavior, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. The plant reaches significant dimensions in the forest canopy, with a mean height of approximately 35 m and a maximum recorded height of up to 36.57644477 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

36.57644477 m

Plant height mean:

35 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Bombax buonopolense is characterized by a standard C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing the Calvin cycle to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic compounds. This metabolic strategy is typical of many tropical woody species, allowing the plant to optimize gas exchange and energy production under its native environmental conditions. Furthermore, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, and instead relies on the uptake of mineral nitrogen from the soil through its root system.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Bombax buonopozense is characterized by a flowering period that exhibits significant seasonal flexibility. The plant's flowering cycle is highly variable, with the onset of blooming and the conclusion of the flowering phase spanning across the months of January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, and December. Because the flowering time is described as variable, the specific duration of the reproductive phase can shift depending on environmental conditions, though the potential window for floral development encompasses the entire calendar year.

Flowering time :

Jan

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Bombax buonopozense 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 fruit, stem.

Fruit

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Stem

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Preparations

Bombax buonopozense has 1 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Methanol extracts of different parts of each plant (stem barks and fruits).

Methanol extracts of different parts of each plant (stem barks and fruits)

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM