Combretum collinum

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida. Following the subclass Magnoliidae, it is placed in the order Myrtales and the family Combretaceae. It is specifically identified by its genus, Combretum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is found across several specific regions within West Tropical Africa. Its geographical range includes the nation of Benin, where it grows in various habitats. It is also documented as being present in Burkina and the Gambia. Furthermore, its distribution extends into Ghana, contributing to its presence in the region. Finally, the species can be found within the borders of Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Combretum collinum is characterized by its preference for forest habitats, where it integrates into the complex biological structures of the woodland or forested ecosystem. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, occupying a diverse range of environments from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1465 m AMSL. This vast elevational gradient suggests a high degree of ecological plasticity, allowing the plant to adapt to varying temperature regimes, moisture availability, and atmospheric pressures across different topographical zones.

Elevational range max:

1465 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest

Life history

The life history of Combretum collinum is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist across multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody stems, a structural adaptation that defines its growth habit. This plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage periodically, which is often a strategic response to seasonal environmental shifts or moisture availability.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Combretum collinum is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically functioning as a tree. This species is a terrestrial plant that maintains an independent existence, functioning neither as a parasite nor as an epiphyte. In terms of its structural habit, it is described as self-supporting rather than acting as a climbing vine or liana. The plant exhibits significant variation in stature, with heights ranging from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of 15 meters, maintaining a mean plant height of approximately 11.33 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15 m

Plant height mean:

11.3333333333333 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Combretum collinum is characterized by its metabolic processes and nutrient acquisition strategies. It utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a mechanism where carbon fixation occurs primarily through the enzyme RuBisCO in the mesophyll cells, typical of many woody dicotyledonous species. Furthermore, this plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria necessary to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, relying instead on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Combretum collinum is characterized by a biotic pollination strategy, primarily involving insect vectors such as bees. The seeds produced by this species exhibit significant variability in size, with a minimum mass of 0.08614 g and a maximum mass of 1.04576 g, resulting in a mean seed mass of approximately 0.729076666666667 g. Following successful fertilization, the plant utilizes an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on wind to transport its seeds to new locations.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

1.04576 g

Seed mass mean:

0.729076666666667 g

Seed mass min:

0.08614 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Combretum collinum 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 leaf.

Leaf

1. Parasitology research
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Combretum collinum has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiplasmodial, Cytotoxic.

Antiplasmodial

1. African journal of laboratory medicine

Cytotoxic

1. African journal of laboratory medicine

Conditions

Combretum collinum has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Plasmodium falciparum, diarrhea, malaria, snakebite envenomation, snakebites.

Plasmodium falciparum

1. Parasitology research

Diarrhea

1. Frontiers in veterinary science

Malaria

1. African journal of laboratory medicine

Snakebite envenomation

1. TheScientificWorldJournal

Snakebites

1. Journal of toxicology

Preparations

Combretum collinum has 8 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Crude dichloromethane, alkaloids extracts, aqueous, chloromethylenic leaf extracts, methanol.

Crude dichloromethane

1. African journal of laboratory medicine

Alkaloids extracts

1. African journal of laboratory medicine

Aqueous

1. African journal of laboratory medicine

Chloromethylenic leaf extracts

1. Parasitology research

Methanol

1. African journal of laboratory medicine

Methanol and distilled water extracts

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Total alkaloids

1. Parasitology research

Water-methanol

1. African journal of laboratory medicine