Cissus populnea

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Vitis populnea
• Cissus populnea var. kottoensis

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further organized into the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Vitales, falling under the family Vitaeaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Cissus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known scientifically as Cassia populnea, exhibits a specific distribution across the West Tropical Africa region. Within this part of the continent, it can be found growing in the nation of Benin. Its presence is also documented in the territory of Burkina. Furthermore, the species extends its reach into the countries of Gambia and Ghana. Finally, the geographical range of this medicinal plant includes Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Cissus populnea is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through 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 within its ecosystem. This phanerophytic life form is consistent across its development, ensuring that its primary growing points remain protected and positioned to facilitate upward or outward expansion.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cissus populnea is characterized by its growth as a woody shrub, displaying a robust and perennial structure. It functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor as an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence rather than being aquatic or semiaquatic. As a climbing plant, it exhibits the characteristics of a liana, utilizing an obligatory climbing habit to ascend toward light sources. Its physical development is defined by its woody nature, providing the necessary structural integrity for its liana-like growth form.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cassia populnea is characterized by the production of fleshy fruits that serve as the primary vessel for seed dispersal. The seeds contained within these fruits exhibit a consistent and uniform volume, with both the minimum and maximum recorded values, as well as the mean volume, reaching exactly 1900 mm³. In terms of weight, the seeds show slight variability, with a minimum mass of 0.5018 g and a maximum mass of 0.64377 g, resulting in an average seed mass of 0.572785 g. This combination of fleshy fruit characteristics and specific seed dimensions plays a crucial role in the plant's reproductive cycle and successful propagation.

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Seed mass max:

0.64377 g

Seed mass mean:

0.572785 g

Seed mass min:

0.5018 g

Seed volume max:

1900 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cissus populnea 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. ISRN pharmacology

Chemicals

Cissus populnea has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Carotenoids, ascorbic acid, triterpenoids.

Carotenoids

1. ISRN pharmacology

ascorbic acid

1. ISRN pharmacology

triterpenoids

1. ISRN pharmacology

Activities

Cissus populnea has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.

Antioxidant

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine

Conditions

Cissus populnea has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include bacterial diseases, trypanosomiasis.

Bacterial diseases

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Trypanosomiasis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Cissus populnea has 2 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Aqueous Extract of Stem Bark, extracts.

Aqueous extract of stem bark

1. ISRN pharmacology

Extracts

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine