Gbehutu

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Gbehutu
• Santa Rita mountain yellowshow

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered as Malvales and placed in the family Bixaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Cochlospermum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Cochlospermum planchonii, is primarily distributed across the West Tropical Africa region. Its presence is specifically documented within the borders of Benin and Burkina Faso. Furthermore, it can be found growing in the natural landscapes of Ghana. The species also extends its range into the territory of Guinea. Finally, its geographical reach includes the coastal and inland areas of the Ivory Coast.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Cochlospermum planchonii is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle in a single year. In terms of its growth architecture and survival strategy, the species is classified under the life form of a chamaephyte, indicating a structural habit where the reproductive shoots are located close to the ground level, typically just above the soil surface. This specific life form categorization, consistent across both its phanerophytic and chamaephyte trait designations, suggests a specialized adaptation to its environmental niche, balancing its perennial longevity with a compact, low-growing structural arrangement.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cochlospermum planchonii is characterized by a woody structure that exhibits a growth form ranging from a shrub to a subshrub. This plant is a self-supporting species, meaning it does not function as a climber or liana, and it maintains an independent existence rather than acting as a parasite. It is a terrestrial plant, not possessing aquatic or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of physical dimensions, it reaches an average plant height of approximately 2 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Growth form :

subshrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cochlospermum planchonii is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in response to environmental conditions. As a C3 plant, it utilizes the Calvin cycle to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide directly through the enzyme Rubisco, a mechanism that is typical for many woody species in this genus but requires careful management of transpiration and photorespiration. Furthermore, regarding its nutrient acquisition capabilities, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it does not possess the symbiotic relationships with diazotrophic bacteria necessary to convert atmospheric nitrogen into biologically available forms, and instead relies on the uptake of nitrogenous compounds such as nitrates and ammonium from the soil to support its physiological development.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cochlospermum planchonii is characterized by the production of seeds that exhibit a highly uniform weight distribution. Based on empirical data, the seed mass is consistent across all measured samples, with a mean, maximum, and minimum value all recorded at exactly 0.03783 g. This lack of variance in seed mass suggests a stabilized reproductive strategy regarding the energetic investment per individual seed. These lightweight seeds, averaging approximately 0.03783 g, play a critical role in the plant's dispersal and establishment processes within its natural habitat.

Seed mass mean:

0.03783 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cochlospermum planchonii has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include rhizome, root.

Rhizome

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Root

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Chemicals

Cochlospermum planchonii has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, MANGANESE, ZINC, ZINC FORMATE, polyphenols.

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

MANGANESE

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

ZINC

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

ZINC FORMATE

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

polyphenols

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Cochlospermum planchonii has 4 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antisecretory, Cytoprotective, Hepatoprotective.

Antioxidant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Antisecretory

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Cytoprotective

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Hepatoprotective

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Cochlospermum planchonii has 9 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Plasmodium falciparum, cancer, Malaria, Plasmodium berghei, angiogenesis.

Plasmodium falciparum

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Planta medica

Cancer

1. Heliyon
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Malaria

1. Malaria journal

Plasmodium berghei

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Angiogenesis

1. Heliyon

Inflammation

1. Heliyon

Jaundice

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Malaria

1. BioImpacts : BI

Ulcers

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Preparations

Cochlospermum planchonii has 8 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include CP, decoction, extracts, extracts of Cochlospermum planchonii (rhizome), methanol root bark extract.

Cp

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Decoction

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Extracts

1. Heliyon

Extracts of cochlospermum planchonii (rhizome)

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Methanol root bark extract

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Methanolic root bark extract

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Methylene chloride extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Root bark methanol extract

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM