West African cherry-orange

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• West African cherry-orange

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Anisifolium schweinfurthii
• Citropsis mirabilis
• Anisifolium poggei
• Anisifolium preussii
• Limonia schweinfurthii
• Limonia ugandensis
• Limonia demeusei
• Limonia mirabilis
• Citrus articulata
• Citropsis preussii
• Citropsis schweinfurthii
• Limonia poggei
• Limonia preussii

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Citropsis articulata, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Sapindales. Finally, it is classified under the family Rutaceae and the genus Citropsis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily located within the West Tropical Africa region. Its specific distribution includes the country of Ghana, where it can be found growing naturally. It is also documented to exist within the borders of Guinea and the Ivory Coast. Furthermore, the species extends its reach into Liberia. Finally, its geographical presence is confirmed in Nigeria, completing its regional range.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Citropsis articulata is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, ensuring its presence across multiple growing seasons. In terms of its physical structure and growth habit, it exhibits a dual classification of life forms, functioning as both a phanerophyte, with its buds elevated well above the ground, and a nanophanerophyte, typically maintaining a low-growing or compact stature. Furthermore, the plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, retaining its foliage throughout the year rather than shedding it seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Citropsis articulata is characterized by its stature as a woody tree, typically reaching a mean height of 4 m, though it can attain a maximum height of approximately 6.10 m. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic or epiphytic tendencies, instead growing as an independent organism without parasitic requirements. In terms of structural habit, the plant is classified as a self-supporting tree rather than a climber, maintaining a stable and upright growth form.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

6.096074128 m

Plant height mean:

4 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Citropsis articulata is characterized by a specific metabolic and nutritional framework common to many woody species in its taxonomic group. Regarding its carbon assimilation, the plant utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a process where the first stable product of carbon fixation is a three-carbon molecule, typically occurring under standard atmospheric conditions. In terms of its nutrient acquisition and symbiotic capabilities, Citropsis articulata is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, relying instead on the uptake of nitrogenous compounds available within the soil substrate.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Citropsis articulata is characterized by a highly flexible phenological cycle regarding its fruit production. The fruiting period for this species is notably inconsistent, as the timing for both the onset and the conclusion of the fruiting season is classified as variable. Consequently, the fruiting start can occur at any point throughout the year, spanning from January through December, depending on environmental conditions. Similarly, the fruiting end does not adhere to a fixed seasonal pattern and can also manifest during any month from January to December. This variability suggests that the plant's reproductive output is heavily influenced by fluctuating ecological factors rather than a strictly synchronized annual calendar.

Fruiting time :

variable

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Citropsis articulata has 1 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 root.

Root

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Organic letters

Chemicals

Citropsis articulata has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Cyclocitropside B, Cyclocitropside C.

Cyclocitropside B

1. Organic letters

Cyclocitropside C

1. Organic letters

Activities

Citropsis articulata has 1 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimalarial.

Antimalarial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Citropsis articulata has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include erectile dysfunction, malaria.

Erectile dysfunction

1. African health sciences

Malaria

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Citropsis articulata has 2 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include MeOH extract of the root bark, root barks.

Meoh extract of the root bark

1. Organic letters

Root barks

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology