Distephanus biafrae

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Vernonia biafrae var. tufnelliae
• Vernonia solidaginifolia
• Gongrothamnus solidaginifolius
• Cacalia biafrae
• Vernonia biafrae
• Vernonia rhodocalymma
• Vernonia senecioides
• Vernonia tufnelliae
• Vernonia verschuerenii

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Asterales, it is classified under the family Asteraceae. Its specific taxonomic designation is placed within the genus Distephanus, where it is known as Distephanus biafrae.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad presence across various regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, it can be found growing in Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. Its distribution also extends into the West-Central Tropical Africa region. Specifically, the species has been documented in Burundi. Consequently, its geographical range spans multiple diverse ecological zones from West to Central Africa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Distephanus biafrae is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its life cycle in a single year. As a perennial, it maintains a continuous presence in its habitat, often establishing robust root systems or vegetative structures that facilitate long-term survival and regrowth. This enduring growth habit enables the plant to withstand seasonal fluctuations and accumulate sufficient energy reserves to support repeated reproductive cycles over its lifespan.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Distephanus biafrae is characterized by its growth as a woody shrub, exhibiting a self-supporting structure. It functions as a facultative climber, meaning it possesses the ability to climb while remaining capable of independent growth. The plant is strictly terrestrial in its habitat, neither aquatic nor epiphytic, and operates as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant displays significant variation in size, with heights ranging from a minimum of 0.7 m to a mean height of approximately 6 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Climber :

facultative

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

6 m

Plant height min:

0.7 m

Woodiness :

woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Distephanus biafrae has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Cytotoxic.

Antimicrobial

1. Journal of natural products

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of natural products