Large-leaved Cordia

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Large-leaved Cordia
• East African cordia
• Sudan teak
• large-leaf cordia
• Large-Leaved Saucerberry

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lithocardium amplifolium
• Varronia abyssinica
• Calyptracordia abyssinica
• Gerascanthus africanus
• Cordia abyssinica var. acutifolia
• Cordia unyorensis
• Cordia amplifolia
• Cordia harara
• Cordia holstii
• Lithocardium abyssinicum
• Cordia abyssinica
• Gerascanthus holstii

Regional and Traditional Names

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 falls under the order Boraginales and the family Boraginaceae. It is specifically categorized under the genus Cordia as Cordia africana.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad presence across several regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its distribution includes the nations of Guinea, Mali, and Nigeria. Moving toward the center of the continent, it is also found within West-Central Tropical Africa. Specifically, its range extends into Burundi and the Central African Republic. This diverse geographical spread highlights the plant's ability to thrive in various tropical environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cordia africana is characterized by a highly specific altitudinal niche, primarily thriving within a narrow elevational range. This species is typically found at elevations ranging from a minimum of 730 m AMSL to a maximum of 745 m AMSL. This restricted vertical distribution suggests that the plant is highly adapted to the particular microclimates, atmospheric pressures, and temperature regimes present within this specific altitudinal band. Such precision in its environmental requirements indicates that its ecological stability is closely tied to the specific topographical and climatic conditions found at these precise heights above mean sea level.

Elevational range max:

745 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

730 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Cordia africana is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located on aerial shoots well above the ground, a trait that defines its structural growth pattern. This species maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that it retains its foliage and continues its physiological processes throughout the year.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cordia africana is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, which functions as a self-supporting structure rather than a climber or a vine. This species is an independent plant, meaning it does not act as a parasite, and it maintains a terrestrial existence rather than being aquatic or epiphytic. In terms of physical dimensions, the plant exhibits significant vertical development, with a height that ranges from a minimum of 10 meters to a maximum of 24 meters, maintaining a mean height of approximately 10 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

24 m

Plant height mean:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cordia africana is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. Morphologically, the plant exhibits specific foliar dimensions, with leaves maintaining an average length of 11.9 cm and an average width of 9.9 cm. Regarding its nutrient cycling capabilities, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the soil's available nitrogen rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria to meet its nutritional requirements.

Leaf length mean:

11.9 cm

Leaf width mean:

9.9 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cordia africana is characterized by a biotic pollination strategy, primarily facilitated by insects, with bees playing a significant role in the transfer of pollen. The plant produces fleshy fruits, which are indicative of a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, specifically utilizing endozoochory where seeds are dispersed through the digestive tracts of animals. The seeds themselves exhibit a range of physical dimensions and masses; they have a mean length of 8.3 mm and a maximum height of 6.2 mm, with a maximum width of 6.2 mm. In terms of volume, the seeds maintain a consistent measurement of approximately 230 mm³. The seed mass shows significant variability, ranging from a minimum of 0.02889 g to a maximum of 0.74868 g, with an overall mean seed mass of 0.325856667 g.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed height max:

6.2 mm

Seed length mean:

8.3 mm

Seed mass max:

0.74868 g

Seed mass mean:

0.325856667 g

Seed mass min:

0.02889 g

Seed volume max:

230 mm³

Seed width max:

6.2 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cordia africana has 2 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root.

Leaf

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. PloS one
3. Clinical nutrition ESPEN

Root

1. Scientific reports

Chemicals

Cordia africana has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Tannins, CHLOROFORM, Flavonoids, Phenols, Steroids.

Tannins

1. Journal of helminthology
2. Scientific reports

CHLOROFORM

1. PloS one

Flavonoids

1. Scientific reports

Phenols

1. Scientific reports

Steroids

1. Scientific reports

Terpenes

1. Journal of helminthology

Trilinolein

1. Scientific reports

triterpenoids

1. Scientific reports

Activities

Cordia africana has 3 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimalarial, Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective.

Antimalarial

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antioxidant

1. Clinical nutrition ESPEN

Hepatoprotective

1. Clinical nutrition ESPEN

Conditions

Cordia africana has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include malaria, diarrhea, liver diseases, schistosomiasis.

Malaria

1. Journal of helminthology
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Scientific reports
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Diarrhea

1. Scientific reports

Liver diseases

1. Scientific reports

Schistosomiasis

1. Journal of helminthology

Preparations

Cordia africana has 10 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include 80% methanol extract, absolute methanol extract, chloroform extract, chloroform fraction, crude extract.

80% methanol extract

1. PloS one

Absolute methanol extract

1. PloS one

Chloroform extract

1. PloS one

Chloroform fraction

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Crude extract

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Extracts

1. Journal of helminthology

Leaf extracts

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

N-butanol fraction

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Solvent extracts

1. PloS one

Solvent fractions

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM