Forest flamecreeper

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• forest flame-creeper
• fire vine

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Combretum abbreviatum
• Combretum thonneri
• Combretum seretii
• Combretum ramosissimum
• Combretum unyorense
• Combretum virgultosum
• Combretum bruneelii
• Combretum buvumense
• Combretum carvalhei
• Combretum lemairei
• Combretum pincianum
• Combretum thonneri var. laurentii
• Combretum seretii var. grandiflorum
• Combretum paniculatum var. vanderystii

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is classified within the order Myrtales and the family Combretaceae. Specifically, it is identified by its genus, Combretum, and its species, panicculatum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Combretum paniculatum, exhibits a specific distribution pattern across the West Tropical Africa region. It can be found growing within the borders of Benin. The species is also documented as part of the flora in Burkina. Furthermore, its presence extends to the nation of Gambia. Finally, the geographical range of this medicinal plant includes Guinea-Bissau and Ghana.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Combretum paniculatum is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons within its natural habitat. As a member of the phanerophyte life forms, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody stems, a structural adaptation that defines its growth habit and survival strategy. This phanerophyte classification is consistent across its developmental stages, ensuring that its vital meristematic tissues are protected from surface-level environmental stresses, thereby facilitating its long-term establishment in the ecosystem.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Combretum paniculatum is characterized by a woody growth form, primarily manifesting as a shrub or a liana. As an obligatory climber, it utilizes a liana growth habit to ascend, though its stature can vary significantly depending on its support system, with heights ranging from a minimum of 2 m to a mean height of approximately 15.67 m. The plant is strictly terrestrial in its ecological positioning, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. Its structural integrity is defined by its woody nature, supporting its climbing mechanism as it navigates its terrestrial environment.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

15.6666666666667 m

Plant height min:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Combretum paniculatum is characterized by complex metabolic processes adapted to its specific ecological niche, particularly regarding its nutrient acquisition and resource management. In terms of its symbiotic relationships and soil interaction, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it does not possess the specialized root nodules containing diazotrophic bacteria necessary to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms. Consequently, its physiological dependence on soil nitrogen availability is high, requiring the uptake of nitrates or ammonium through its root system to support protein synthesis and enzymatic functions. Its metabolic framework supports vigorous growth and reproductive development, driven by photosynthetic efficiency and the translocation of nutrients through a specialized vascular system to sustain its sprawling or climbing habit.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Combretum paniculatum is characterized by a flexible flowering schedule and a highly specific fruiting period. The flowering stage is notably variable, with the onset and conclusion of blooming occurring at different times throughout the year, spanning from January through December. Following the flowering phase, the plant enters its fruiting stage, which is much more concentrated, specifically starting and ending in March. Regarding its seed characteristics, the plant produces seeds with a very consistent mass; the mean, maximum, and minimum seed mass are all recorded at 0.03401 g, indicating a high level of uniformity in the weight of the seeds produced.

Flowering time :

variable

Fruiting time :

Mar

Seed mass mean:

0.03401 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Combretum paniculatum 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. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Combretum paniculatum has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CATECHIN, Epicatechin, kaempferol.

CATECHIN

1. Heliyon

Epicatechin

1. Heliyon

kaempferol

1. Heliyon

Activities

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

Antioxidant

1. Heliyon

Conditions

Combretum paniculatum has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Plasmodium falciparum, cancer, inflammation, lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress.

Plasmodium falciparum

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cancer

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

Inflammation

1. Heliyon

Lipid peroxidation

1. Heliyon

Oxidative stress

1. Heliyon

Preparations

Combretum paniculatum has 5 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aqueous extracts, ethanol extract, ethanol extracts, ethanolic extracts, stem bark.

Aqueous extracts

1. Journal of herbal pharmacotherapy

Ethanol extract

1. Heliyon

Ethanol extracts

1. Journal of herbal pharmacotherapy

Ethanolic extracts

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

Stem bark

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology