African Laburnum

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• African Laburnum

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cassia conspicua
• Cassia sieberiana var. macrocarpa
• Cassia kotschyana
• Cathartocarpus sieberianus
• Cathartocarpus conspicuus

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. It is specifically identified by its genus, Cassia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several regions within West Tropical Africa. Specifically, its presence has been documented in the nation of Benin. It can also be found growing within the borders of Burkina Faso. Furthermore, the species is located in Gambia and Ghana. Finally, its geographical range extends to include Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Cassia sieberiana is characterized by its existence as a perennial plant, ensuring its presence in the ecosystem over multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are elevated above the ground, a structural adaptation that defines its growth habit and survival strategy. This species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage periodically, which likely serves as a physiological response to seasonal environmental shifts.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cassia sieberiana is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, standing as a significant structural element in its environment. It is a self-supporting species, rather than a climber or liana, and maintains an independent lifestyle, functioning as a non-parasitic plant. The species is strictly terrestrial, showing no aquatic or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant reaches a mean height of approximately 15 m, with a maximum recorded height of up to 15.24 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15.24018532 m

Plant height mean:

15 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cassia sieberiana is characterized by its specific metabolic and nutritional processes, most notably its utilization of the C3 photosynthetic pathway for carbon fixation. This pathway involves the direct fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide via the enzyme RuBisCO during the Calvin cycle, which is typical for many woody species in this genus. Furthermore, regarding its nutrient acquisition capabilities, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria necessary to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, relying instead on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil substrate.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cassia sieberiana is driven by biotic pollination syndromes, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. The plant produces fruits characterized by a dry texture, which eventually release seeds with highly specific physical properties. These seeds exhibit a mean mass of approximately 0.129485 g, with individual seed masses ranging from a minimum of 0.03743 g to a maximum of 0.28571 g. In terms of spatial dimensions, the seed volume is remarkably consistent, maintaining a mean, minimum, and maximum value of 200 mm³.

Fruit dryness :

dry

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.28571 g

Seed mass mean:

0.129485 g

Seed mass min:

0.03743 g

Seed volume max:

200 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cassia sieberiana 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 root.

Root

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Cassia sieberiana has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Stilbenes.

Flavonoids

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Stilbenes

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Activities

Cassia sieberiana has 3 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antihyperglycemic, Antispasmodic, Spasmolytic.

Antihyperglycemic

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antispasmodic

1. Dakar medical

Spasmolytic

1. Dakar medical

Conditions

Cassia sieberiana has 6 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include malaria, HIV-1, liver dysfunction, mental disorders, spasmolytic.

Malaria

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hiv-1

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Liver dysfunction

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Mental disorders

1. Medicines (Basel, Switzerland)

Spasmolytic

1. Dakar medical

Spasms

1. Dakar medical

Preparations

Cassia sieberiana has 3 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Aqueous extracts, Cassia sieberiana root, root and bark extracts.

Aqueous extracts

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Cassia sieberiana root

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Root and bark extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology