Sand Crown-berry

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• African-Bark
• Crystalbark
• Febrifugal Rondeletia
• Ordealtree
• Sand Crownberry

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Rondeletia febrifuga
• Tarenna mossambicensis
• Crossopteryx africana
• Tarenna angolensis
• Crossopteryx kotschyana
• Chomelia mossambicensis
• Chomelia angolensis
• Chomelia buchananii

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. Within the order Gentianaales, it is classified under the family Rubiaceae. Ultimately, its specific taxonomic designation is within the genus Crossopteryx.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Crossopteryx febrifuga, is distributed across several specific regions within West Tropical Africa. Its presence is documented in the nation of Benin, where it grows within the local ecosystem. Additionally, the species can be found throughout Burkina Faso. The geographical range extends further to include the country of Gambia. Finally, its distribution encompasses the coastal and inland areas of Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Crossopteryx febrifuga is characterized by its preference for specific forest structures, primarily thriving within thicket margins and Brachystegia woodland ecosystems. It occupies a distinct altitudinal niche, distributed across a vertical gradient that begins at an elevation of 425 m AMSL and reaches a maximum of 945 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

945 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

425 m AMSL

Habitat :

thicketmargins,Brachystegiawoodland

Life history

The life history of Crossopteryx febrifuga is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its survival across multiple growing seasons. Morphologically, it exhibits a dual structural nature, categorized both as a phanerophyte, indicating the presence of visible above-ground stems, and specifically as a nanophanerophyte, denoting relatively short stems. Its seasonal cycle is marked by a deciduous habit, meaning it sheds its foliage periodically as part of its natural growth pattern.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Crossopteryx febrifuga is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, which functions as a self-supporting structure rather than a liana or vine. As an independent organism, it does not exhibit parasitic or epiphytic behavior, maintaining a strictly terrestrial habit. The plant displays significant variation in stature, with individual heights ranging from a minimum of 1.8 m to a maximum of 15 m, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 6.33 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15 m

Plant height mean:

6.33333333333333 m

Plant height min:

1.8 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Crossopteryx febrifuga is characterized by a standard C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing the Calvin cycle for carbon fixation without the specialized anatomical adaptations found in C4 or CAM plants. In terms of nutrient acquisition and metabolic processes, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required 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 Crossopteryx febrifuga is characterized by a synchronized seasonal cycle, with both the flowering and fruiting periods occurring primarily in July. The plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the fertilization process. Following successful pollination, the plant produces dry fruits that contain seeds with a highly consistent volume of 6.1 mm³. These seeds exhibit a range of masses, with a minimum weight of 0.00068 g, a maximum of 0.01194 g, and a mean seed mass of 0.00631 g, reflecting the specific energetic investment required for the species' propagation.

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruiting time :

Jul

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.01194 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00631 g

Seed mass min:

0.00068 g

Seed volume max:

6.1 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Crossopteryx febrifuga has 2 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, seed.

Leaf

1. Heliyon

Seed

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Crossopteryx febrifuga has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ARABINOGALACTAN, Silver nanoparticles.

ARABINOGALACTAN

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Silver nanoparticles

1. Heliyon

Activities

Crossopteryx febrifuga has 4 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimalarial, Antioxidant, Antiplasmodial, Spasmolytic.

Antimalarial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antiplasmodial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Spasmolytic

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Conditions

Crossopteryx febrifuga has 7 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cough, Entamoeba histolytica, bronchospasm, fever, infectious skin diseases.

Cough

1. International journal of biological macromolecules
2. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Entamoeba histolytica

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Bronchospasm

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Fever

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Infectious skin diseases

1. Heliyon

Malaria

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Trypanosomiasis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Crossopteryx febrifuga has 4 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include decoction, aqueous leaf extracts, polyphenolic extracts, seeds.

Decoction

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous leaf extracts

1. Heliyon

Polyphenolic extracts

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Seeds

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology