mitzeeri

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• bridelia
• Benin Ironwood
• Benin Ironwoods
• Coast Cold Leaf
• Coast Gold Leaf
• Coastal Goldenleaf
• Miteeri
• Mitzeeri
• Mitzeeri Sweetberry
• Wild-Coffee
• Yoruba Ironwoods

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Candelabria micrantha

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Malpighiales and the family Phyllanthaceae. Finally, the medicinal species is identified by its genus, Bridelia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated within the West Tropical Africa region. It can be found growing naturally in the country of Benin. The species also inhabits parts of Burkina Faso and the Gambia. Furthermore, its presence extends into the territory of Ghana. Finally, its range includes the coastal nation of Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Bridelia micrantha is characterized by its preference for specific moisture-rich environments, typically occurring in riverine habitats or along forest margins, though it is less frequently found in bushed or wooded grasslands. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, thriving across a diverse range of topographic gradients from a minimum elevation of 300 m AMSL to a maximum elevation of 1830 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1830 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

300 m AMSL

Habitat :

usually riverine or in forest margins, less often in bushed or wooded grassland

Life history

The life history of Bridelia micrantha is characterized by its classification as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over many successive growing seasons. In terms of its growth habit and structural strategy, the plant is categorized as a phanerophyte, specifically exhibiting characteristics of both phanerophyte and nanophanerophyte life forms, which indicates that its stem branches and reproductive buds are elevated above the ground level.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Bridelia micrantha is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically classified as a tree. As a terrestrial species, it grows independently without being an epiphyte or a parasite. The plant is self-supporting rather than being a liana or vine. In terms of its physical dimensions, it exhibits significant vertical development, with a plant height that ranges from a minimum of 2 m to a maximum of 20 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 15.33 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Plant height mean:

15.3333333333333 m

Plant height min:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Bridelia micrantha is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The leaf morphology displays specific dimensions, with a mean leaf length of 13.1 cm and a mean leaf width of 5.9 cm, supporting its photosynthetic surface area. Structurally, the leaves are notably delicate, possessing a mean thickness of 0.023 mm. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil rather than through symbiotic atmospheric nitrogen fixation.

Leaf length mean:

13.1 cm

Leaf thickness mean:

0.023 mm

Leaf width mean:

5.9 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Bridelia micrantha is characterized by the production of indehiscent, dry drupes that serve as the primary reproductive vessels. These fruits exhibit specific morphological dimensions, with a mean fruit length of 0.8325 cm (ranging from a minimum of 0.71 cm to a maximum of 0.88 cm), a mean fruit width of 0.6575 cm (ranging from 0.545 cm to 0.77 cm), and a mean fruit height of 0.5225 cm (with a maximum of 0.545 cm and a minimum of 0.545 cm). The seeds contained within these fruits vary in mass, with a mean seed mass of 0.043635 g, a minimum of 0.051 g, and a maximum of 0.10354 g. In terms of seed morphology, the average seed length is 7.4 mm, the maximum seed height is 4.6 mm, and the maximum seed width is 5.4 mm, while the seed volume remains consistent at a mean of 24 mm³ (with both minimum and maximum values recorded at 24 mm³). The dispersal of the species is facilitated through a combination of zoochorous and autochorous syndromes, ensuring the effective distribution of its reproductive units within its ecosystem.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit height max:

0.545 cm

Fruit height mean:

0.5225 cm

Fruit length max:

0.88 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.8325 cm

Fruit length min:

0.71 cm

Fruit type :

drupe

Fruit width max:

0.77 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.6575 cm

Fruit width min:

0.545 cm

Seed height max:

4.6 mm

Seed length mean:

7.4 mm

Seed mass max:

0.10354 g

Seed mass mean:

0.043635 g

Seed mass min:

0.051 g

Seed volume max:

24 mm³

Seed width max:

5.4 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Bridelia micrantha has 1 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include stem.

Stem

1. Pharmacognosy magazine
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. BioMed research international

Chemicals

Bridelia micrantha has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 2-Pinen-4-one, Flavonoids, Linalool, P99, Tannins.

2-Pinen-4-one

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Flavonoids

1. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica

Linalool

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

P99

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Tannins

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Triterpenes

1. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica

Activities

Bridelia micrantha has 9 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Anticonvulsant, Antimicrobial, Antiplasmodial, Sedative.

Antioxidant

1. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. BioMed research international

Anticonvulsant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Epilepsy & behavior : E&B

Antimicrobial

1. Pharmacognosy magazine
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiplasmodial

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. BioMed research international

Sedative

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Epilepsy & behavior : E&B

Anthelmintic

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antidiabetic

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antinociceptive

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Hepatoprotective

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Medicinal Uses

Bridelia micrantha has 22 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include malaria, Helicobacter pylori, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Salmonella Typhimurium, Shigella sonnei.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations