mulangu

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• mulangu
• mulugu
• mutundu

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Oxydectes macrostachya
• Rottlera schimperi
• Croton macrostachyus var. mollissimus
• Croton butaguensis
• Croton guerzesiensis

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 follows the order Malpighiales and is a member of the family Euphorbiaceae. Specifically, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Croton, which includes the species Croton macrostachyus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily located within the West Tropical Africa region. Specifically, its range includes the country of Ghana, where it can be found growing in native habitats. It is also distributed across the coastal and inland areas of Guinea. Furthermore, the species extends its presence into the Ivory Coast and Liberia. Finally, its geographical reach concludes with documented occurrences in Nigeria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Croton macrostachys is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody stems, a structural adaptation that defines its primary life form. This species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage periodically as part of its seasonal developmental cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Croton macrostachyus is characterized by its robust growth form, primarily existing as a woody tree. This species is a terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism, rather than acting as a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of stature, it is a significant structural component of its environment, with a plant height that typically ranges from a minimum of 3 m to a maximum of approximately 15.24 m, maintaining an average height of around 17.5 m. Although it possesses a sturdy, woody structure, it is categorized as a self-supporting plant rather than a climber, liana, or vine.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15.24018532 m

Plant height mean:

17.5 m

Plant height min:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Croton macrostachyus is characterized by a standard C3 photosynthetic pathway, meaning it utilizes the Calvin cycle to fix carbon dioxide through the enzyme Rubisco without the specialized anatomical adaptations found in C4 or CAM plants. In terms of nutrient cycling and metabolic processes, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, lacking the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms for the plant.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Croton macrostachyus is characterized by a biotic pollination strategy, specifically relying on insect vectors, with bees playing a significant role in the process. The plant exhibits an absence of self-fertilization, necessitating cross-pollination to ensure genetic diversity. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces fruits categorized under the "other" type, which maintain a consistent average dimension of 1 cm in both length and width. The resulting seeds vary in mass, ranging from a minimum of 0.04 g to a maximum of 0.086 g, with an overall mean seed mass of approximately 0.0607 g. For dispersal, the species utilizes a zoochorous syndrome, specifically employing endozoochory, where seeds are dispersed through the internal passage of animals to facilitate colonization of new habitats.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Fruit length mean:

1 cm

Fruit type :

other

Fruit width mean:

1 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.086 g

Seed mass mean:

0.060706667 g

Seed mass min:

0.04 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Croton macrostachyus has 3 reported plant parts identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root, seed.

Leaf

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. TheScientificWorldJournal
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
4. Journal of parasitology research
5. Chemistry & biodiversity

Root

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. BMC chemistry
3. Journal of experimental pharmacology
4. Heliyon
5. Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine

Seed

1. Scientific reports

Chemicals

Croton macrostachyus has 28 reported phytochemicals identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Tannins, Terpenoids, FE, MN.

Flavonoids

1. BMC chemistry
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Journal of parasitology research

Tannins

1. TheScientificWorldJournal
2. Journal of parasitology research
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Terpenoids

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Chemistry & biodiversity
3. Journal of parasitology research

FE

1. BMC plant biology
2. Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine

MN

1. BMC plant biology
2. Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine

Anthraquinones

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Ash

1. BMC plant biology

CA

1. Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine

CHROMIUM

1. Biological trace element research

COPPER

1. Biological trace element research

Activities

Croton macrostachyus has 11 reported activities identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Anthelmintic, Anticancer, Anticonvulsant.

Antioxidant

1. BMC chemistry
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Journal of experimental pharmacology

Antibacterial

1. BMC chemistry
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Anthelmintic

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Anticancer

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Anticonvulsant

1. Epilepsy & behavior : E&B

Antidiabetic

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antifungal

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antiplasmodial

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Bacteriostatic

1. TheScientificWorldJournal

Hepatoprotective

1. Journal of experimental pharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Croton macrostachyus has 21 reported medicinal uses identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include malaria, wounds, Escherichia coli, HIV, Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations