Donella welwitschii

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Chrysophyllum klainei
• Chrysophyllum welwitschii
• Micropholis angolensis
• Donella klainei
• Chrysophyllum ealaense
• Donella dubardii

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Ericales, it is classified under the family Sapotaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identification is placed within the genus Donella.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Doncella welwitschii, exhibits a specific distribution pattern across the West Tropical Africa region. It can be found growing within the borders of Benin. Additionally, the species is documented in the coastal and inland areas of Ghana. Its presence extends further west into the nation of Guinea. Finally, the plant is also known to inhabit parts of Ivory Coast and Liberia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Donella welwitschii is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its reproductive shoots well above the ground level, a structural strategy that defines its growth habit and life form. This plant remains evergreen throughout its life cycle, retaining its foliage continuously rather than undergoing seasonal shedding.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Donella welwitschii is characterized by its woody structure and substantial size, reaching an average plant height of approximately 10 m. As a woody shrub, the plant exhibits a robust growth form and functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite. It is classified as an obligatory climber, specifically taking the form of a liana to ascend its environment, and it maintains a terrestrial habit rather than being epiphytic.

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Donnelea welwitschii is characterized by specialized metabolic pathways adapted to its specific ecological niche, though it lacks the biological machinery required for symbiotic or free-living atmospheric nitrogen fixation. Regarding its nutrient acquisition processes, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer; it does not possess the nitrogen_fix_1 capacity to convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, meaning it relies entirely on the uptake of available nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system. Its physiological functions are geared toward efficient resource management and survival within its environment, utilizing complex enzymatic activities for respiration and photosynthesis to maintain cellular homeostasis and structural integrity.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Donella welwitschii has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial.

Antibacterial

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Conditions

Donella welwitschii has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include coughs.

Coughs

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies