Bridelia grandis

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It further falls under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Malpighiales. Finally, it is a member of the family Phyllanthaceae and is identified by the genus Bridelia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed throughout the West Tropical Africa region. It can be found growing in the diverse landscapes of Guinea and Liberia. Its presence is also well-documented within the borders of Ivory Coast. Furthermore, the species extends its range into the territories of Benin and Nigeria. Consequently, these five nations represent the key geographical areas for its natural habitat.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Bridelia grandis is characterized by its perennial growth habit, primarily manifesting as a phanerophyte, where its reproductive buds are borne on high, woody branches well above the ground level. While its dominant structural expression is that of a phanerophyte, its ecological plasticity allows for diverse life form classifications depending on environmental stressors and growth stages; it can occasionally exhibit characteristics of a nanophanerophyte when growth is restricted to shorter woody stems. As a woody perennial, it undergoes distinct seasonal cycles of vegetative expansion and reproductive flowering, utilizing its elevated canopy to facilitate seed dispersal and maximize light interception within its habitat.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Bridelia grandis is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree, reaching a maximum plant height of approximately 30.48 meters. As a self-supporting species, it does not exhibit climbing habits such as lianas or vines, nor does it function as an obligatory or facultative climber. The plant is strictly terrestrial in its ecological niche, lacking aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies, and it does not exist as an epiphyte. Furthermore, Bridelia grandis is an independent organism, showing no parasitic behavior toward other vegetation.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

30.48037064 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Bridelia grandis is characterized by its metabolic processes, most notably its reliance on the C3 photosynthetic pathway for carbon fixation. As a C3 plant, it utilizes the enzyme Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide directly into a three-carbon compound, the first stable product of the Calvin cycle, during the light-independent reactions. This metabolic strategy suggests that the plant is optimized for environments where water availability is sufficient to maintain open stomata for gas exchange, though it may face challenges regarding photorespiration in high-temperature or arid conditions. Beyond its carbon assimilation mechanisms, the physiological profile of the species involves complex secondary metabolic pathways that facilitate the synthesis of bioactive phytochemicals, which are integral to its biological functions and medicinal properties.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Bridelia grandis 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 stem.

Stem

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Bridelia grandis has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Tannins.

Tannins

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Bridelia grandis has 3 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract, methanol (MeOH) extract, mixtures of MeOH-H2O extract.

Ethyl acetate (etoac) extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Methanol (meoh) extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Mixtures of meoh-h2o extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology