Wild seringa

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• False-Ash
• Mukarati
• Red Seringa
• Red-Seringa
• Rhodesian Ash
• Rhodesian Seringa
• Rhodesian-Ash
• Seringa Tree
• Syringa Tree
• Wild Seringa
• Wild-Seringa
• burkea
• wild syringa

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Burkea africana var. andongensis
• Burkea africana var. cordata
• Burkea caperangau

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae, the order Fabales, and the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Burkea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several regions within West Tropical Africa. It can be found growing in the nation of Benin, contributing to the local flora. The species also has a presence in Burkina, extending its reach across the savanna landscapes. In addition to these areas, the plant is documented in Ghana and Guinea. Finally, its geographical range continues into the Ivory Coast, completing its distribution pattern in this part of the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Burkea africana is characterized by its preference for forest habitats, where it plays a significant role in the local ecosystem. This species is distributed across a diverse altitudinal gradient, thriving in environments ranging from lower elevations of 450 m AMSL to higher reaches reaching a maximum of 1950 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1950 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

450 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest

Life history

The life history of Burkea africanana is characterized by its classification as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist across multiple growing seasons within its ecological niche. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated structures, specifically functioning as a phanerophyte that contributes to the structural complexity of its habitat. Its developmental strategy includes a deciduous nature, meaning it undergoes periodic leaf shedding, which is a vital adaptation for managing water resources and responding to seasonal environmental shifts.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Burkea africana is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically classified as a tree. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber or a liana, and it operates as an independent organism rather than a parasite. As a terrestrial species, it is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte. The plant exhibits significant variation in its physical stature, with heights ranging from a minimum of 1.5 m to a maximum of approximately 21.34 m, maintaining an average plant height of 10 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

21.33625945 m

Plant height mean:

10 m

Plant height min:

1.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Burkea africanana is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency within its natural habitat. As a plant utilizing the C3 mechanism, it fixes atmospheric carbon dioxide directly through the Calvin cycle, a process that typically necessitates specific environmental conditions to optimize gas exchange and water-use efficiency. Furthermore, regarding its nutrient acquisition strategies, Burkea africanana is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable biological form, relying instead on the uptake of available nitrogenous compounds from the soil.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

Reproduction in Burkea africanica is driven by biotic pollination syndromes, specifically involving insects and bees, which facilitate the fertilization process. The plant produces dry fruits that contain seeds characterized by a consistent seed volume of 99 mm³. These seeds exhibit a range of masses, with a minimum mass of 0.05374 g and a maximum mass of 0.14805 g, resulting in an average seed mass of approximately 0.097684 g.

Fruit dryness :

dry

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.14805 g

Seed mass mean:

0.097684 g

Seed mass min:

0.05374 g

Seed volume max:

99 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Burkea africana 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 leaf, stem.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Stem

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Chemicals

Burkea africana has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CATECHIN, Epicatechin, Fisetinidol, Flavonoids, Proanthocyanidins.

CATECHIN

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Epicatechin

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Fisetinidol

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Proanthocyanidins

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

RUTIN

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

caffeic acid

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Activities

Burkea africana has 5 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antinociceptive, Antiplasmodial, Antipyretic, Cytotoxic, Hemolytic.

Antinociceptive

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Antiplasmodial

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Antipyretic

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Hemolytic

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Conditions

Burkea africana has 7 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include malaria, gastrointestinal diseases, inflammation, insect bites, sexually transmitted diseases.

Malaria

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Gastrointestinal diseases

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Inflammation

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Insect bites

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Sexually transmitted diseases

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Snake bites

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Wounds

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Burkea africana has 3 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include hydroethanol bark extract, leaf extracts, stem bark extract.

Hydroethanol bark extract

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Leaf extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Stem bark extract

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine