Cabbage tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Spiky Cabbage Tree
• Cabbage tree
• Elephant's Toothbrush
• Ladies' Cabbagetree
• South African cabbage tree
• Lowveld cabbage tree
• Spiked cabbage tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cussonia kraussii
• Cussonia quercifolia
• Cussonia triptera
• Cussonia calophylla
• Cussonia boivinii

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Cussonia spicata, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Apiales and the family Araliaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Cussonia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across several key regions of the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found within the borders of the DR Congo. Moving toward the Northeast Tropical Africa region, its presence extends through Sudan and South Sudan. The species is also well-established in East Tropical Africa, specifically inhabiting the landscapes of Kenya and Tanzania. Finally, its range continues through East Tropical Africa to include Uganda.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cussonia spicata is characterized by its ability to inhabit a diverse range of topographic settings, spanning a broad altitudinal gradient from as low as 5 m AMSL to a maximum elevation of 1800 m AMSL. This wide elevational range allows the species to persist across various montane and lowland ecosystems, adapting to the fluctuating climatic conditions associated with different heights above sea level. Its distribution within these zones often dictates its interaction with local soil compositions and moisture availability, enabling it to occupy various niche environments within its geographical range.

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

5 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Cussonia spicata is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its environment over many growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive buds are elevated well above the ground on woody stems, a structural adaptation that defines its growth habit. This species maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that its foliage remains functional throughout much of its life cycle without the seasonal shedding of leaves seen in deciduous varieties. Its development follows a stable, long-term trajectory consistent with its classification as a phanerophyte, utilizing its elevated canopy to optimize resource acquisition and survival within its ecological niche.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cussonia spicata is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that functions as a self-supporting organism. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic tendencies, nor does it act as a parasite, maintaining an independent life cycle. The plant's stature is significant, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 3 m to a maximum of 17 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 8 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

17 m

Plant height mean:

8 m

Plant height min:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cussonia spicata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which involves the direct fixation of carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle without the specialized carbon-concentrating mechanisms found in other plant groups. As a non-nitrogen fixer, the plant does not possess a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, meaning it must rely on the uptake of available nitrogenous compounds, such as nitrates and ammonium, from the surrounding soil matrix to support its metabolic processes and protein synthesis.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cussonia spicata is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily relying on insects for the transfer of pollen. The plant produces fruits categorized as drupes, which are notably indehiscent, meaning they do not split open at maturity to release their contents. These fruits maintain a consistent morphology, with a mean length of 0.45 cm and a mean width of 0.45 cm. The seeds contained within are relatively uniform in size, exhibiting a constant seed mass of 0.02066 g (representing both the minimum and maximum recorded values). Following maturation, the plant utilizes a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, employing animals to aid in the distribution of its seeds throughout the environment.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit length mean:

0.45 cm

Fruit type :

drupe

Fruit width mean:

0.45 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass mean:

0.02066 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cussonia spicata 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 leaf.

Leaf

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Activities

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

Antioxidant

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Preparations

Cussonia spicata has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include leaf extracts.

Leaf extracts

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine