Diospyros dendo

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant is found across various regions within the tropical landscapes of Africa. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is specifically noted in Nigeria. Moving into West-Central Tropical Africa, the species can be located in Cabinda. It also inhabits the vast territories of the Central African Republic and Cameroon. Finally, the distribution of this medicinal plant extends into the Congo.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Diospyros dendro is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish long-term presence within its ecosystem. Structurally, it is classified as a phanerophyte, a growth form defined by having its buds located on aerial branches well above the ground, which provides protection and facilitates reproductive success. Specifically, its developmental strategy aligns with the phanerophyte life form, ensuring that its vital meristematic tissues are maintained at a height that avoids many surface-level environmental stressors.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Diospyros dendro is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that functions as a self-supporting organism. It is a terrestrial species and does not exhibit parasitic or epiphytic behavior, maintaining an independent life cycle. The plant reaches significant dimensions, with a recorded mean height of 11.5 m, though individual specimens typically range from a minimum height of approximately 7.62 m to a maximum height of 15.24 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15.24018532 m

Plant height mean:

11.5 m

Plant height min:

7.62009266 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Diospyros dendro is characterized by a standard metabolic framework common to many woody dicotyledonous species. It utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a process where carbon dioxide is fixed directly through the Calvin cycle using the enzyme RuBisCO, which is efficient under temperate or moist environmental conditions but lacks the specialized adaptations found in C4 or CAM plants. Regarding its nutrient cycling capabilities, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it does not possess symbiotic relationships with diazotrophic bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia; instead, it relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system to fulfill its nitrogen requirements for protein synthesis and enzymatic functions.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Diospyros dendro is characterized by a flexible phenological cycle, with the fruiting time being highly variable and capable of occurring across any month of the year, from January through December. The plant produces fruit classified as a berry, which remains indehiscent upon maturity. This fruit type facilitates a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning the seeds are spread by animals that consume the fruit, aiding in the plant's propagation throughout its habitat.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit type :

berry

Fruiting time :

variable

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Diospyros dendo has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Betulin, betulinic acid.

Betulin

1. Dr. Duke

betulinic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Diospyros dendo has 23 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anthelmintic, AntiHIV, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Anticarcinomic.

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiedemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antifeedant

1. Dr. Duke

Antiflu

1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Antileukemic

1. Dr. Duke