African Onionwood

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• African Onionwood
• Lesser Onionwood

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cassipourea gerrardii
• Weihea gerrardii
• Weihea malosana
• Weihea boranensis
• Weihea avettae
• Weihea abyssinica
• Weihea eickii
• Weihea elliottii
• Weihea salvago-raggei
• Weihea ilicifolia
• Cassipourea elliottii
• Cassipourea eickii
• Cassipourea avettae
• Cassipourea abyssinica

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Cassipourea malosana, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae within the order Malpighiales. Finally, it is a member of the family Rhizophoraceae and the genus Cassipourea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning several regions across the African continent. Within West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found in Burundi, Cameroon, and the Republic of the Congo. Its presence is also documented within the vast territories of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Moving toward the eastern part of the continent, its range extends into Northeast Tropical Africa. Specifically, this medicinal species has been identified in the nation of Eritrea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cassipourea malosana is characterized by its specific distribution within montane environments, where it occupies a distinct altitudinal niche. This species is primarily found across a vertical gradient that spans from a lower limit of 600 m AMSL to an upper limit of 1700 m AMSL. This elevational range suggests that the plant is adapted to a variety of mid-to-high altitude climatic conditions, likely interacting with the varying temperature regimes, moisture levels, and soil compositions found within these subtropical or tropical montane zones.

Elevational range max:

1700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

600 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Cassipourea malosana is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle in a single year. This enduring nature is complemented by its evergreen habit, meaning the plant maintains its foliage throughout the year without undergoing a seasonal shedding of leaves. These combined traits facilitate a continuous presence within its ecological niche, providing a stable vegetative structure that supports its long-term survival and medicinal properties.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cassipourea malosana is characterized by its stature as a woody tree with a self-supporting growth habit. This terrestrial species exhibits significant variability in its vertical dimension, with plant heights ranging from a minimum of 5 meters to a maximum of 32.5 meters, maintaining an average height of approximately 12 meters. As an independent organism, it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a robust, self-supporting structure throughout its life cycle.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

5 m

Plant height mean:

32.5 m

Plant height min:

12 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cassipourea malosana is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing the standard Calvin cycle for carbon fixation through the enzyme RuBisCO. This metabolic strategy indicates that the plant performs direct carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate without the specialized carbon-concentrating mechanisms found in C4 or CAM species. Additionally, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationships with diazotrophic bacteria necessary to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, relying instead on the uptake of nitrogenous compounds directly from the soil substrate.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cassipourea malosana is primarily driven by biotic mechanisms, characterized by a complex reliance on biological agents to facilitate its life cycle. The pollination syndrome of this species is multifaceted, utilizing both general insect pollination and specialized interactions with bees to ensure genetic exchange. This biotic strategy involves a synergy between different pollinators, where the plant effectively leverages the movement of various insect species and specifically targets bee activity to achieve successful fertilization.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Cassipourea malosana has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include methyl 4-ethoxy-2-hydroxy-6-propylbenzoate.

methyl 4-ethoxy-2-hydroxy-6-propylbenzoate

1. Journal of natural medicines

Conditions

Cassipourea malosana has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include hypermelanosis.

Hypermelanosis

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Preparations

Cassipourea malosana has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include bark.

Bark

1. Journal of natural medicines