Cape-ash

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Cape-ash
• dog-plum
• Ekebergia
• Large-Leaved Cape-Ash
• Mountain-Ash
• The Ash

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Trichilia capensis
• Ekebergia rueppelliana
• Ekebergia indeniensis
• Ekebergia petitiana var. australia
• Charia chevalieri
• Charia indeniensis
• Sorindeia doeringii
• Trichilia rueppelliana
• Trichilia ekebergia
• Polyscias lepidota
• Ekebergia senegalensis
• Ekebergia petitiana
• Ekebergia holtzii
• Ekebergia meyeri
• Ekebergia mildbraedii
• Ekebergia buchananii
• Ekebergia chevalieri
• Ekebergia complanata
• Ekebergia senegalensis var. coriacea
• Ekebergia senegalensis var. parvifoliola

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 within the class Equisetopsida. Further taxonomic descent places it in the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Sapindales. Finally, it is a member of the family Meliaceae and is situated within the genus Ekebergia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Ekebergia capensis, exhibits a specific geographical distribution across the West Tropical Africa region. Within this part of the continent, its presence is documented in the nation of Benin. It can also be found growing within the borders of Burkina Faso. Furthermore, the species is distributed through the coastal and inland areas of Ghana. Finally, its range extends to include the territories of both Gambia and Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Ekebergia capensis is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to a broad vertical gradient within its habitat, spanning a significant altitudinal range. This species is found at elevations starting from as low as 5 m AMSL, allowing it to inhabit coastal and lowland environments, and extending up to a maximum of 2075 m AMSL in montane regions. This extensive elevational range enables the plant to occupy diverse ecological niches, ranging from subtropical coastal forests to high-altitude mist belts and forest margins, where it interacts with varying microclimates and soil compositions.

Elevational range max:

2075 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

5 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Ekebergia capensis is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its ecosystem through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated branches, a structural adaptation that defines its life form. This species exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that its foliage remains functional year-round rather than shedding seasonally. Its growth strategy is fundamentally rooted in its phanerophyte classification, utilizing its sustained woody structure to thrive over a long-term biological cycle.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ekebergia capensis is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree. It is a terrestrial species that functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte. The plant exhibits significant structural variation in size, with heights ranging from a minimum of 2 meters to a maximum of 18 meters, though it maintains an average plant height of approximately 27.5 meters. In terms of its physical habit, the species is categorized as self-supporting rather than being a liana or vine.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

18 m

Plant height mean:

27.5 m

Plant height min:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ekebergia capensis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic strategy among many woody forest species that involves the direct fixation of carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle. Regarding its nutrient cycling capabilities, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it does not possess a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form for its growth.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ekebergia capensis is driven by biotic pollination processes, specifically involving insects and ants. The plant exhibits an absence of self-fertilization, relying on these external agents to facilitate genetic exchange. Once fertilization occurs, the plant produces fruits categorized under the "other" type. The resulting seeds vary in size and weight, with a recorded seed mass ranging from a minimum of 0.253 g to a maximum of 1.88 g, maintaining an average mass of approximately 0.7286 g. The seed volume is highly consistent, measured at a mean, minimum, and maximum of 410 mm³. Following maturation, the seeds are distributed via a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, utilizing animals to transport them to new locations.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit type :

other

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

ant

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

1.88 g

Seed mass mean:

0.728555555666667 g

Seed mass min:

0.253 g

Seed volume max:

410 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

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

Leaf

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Root

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Stem

1. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Ekebergia capensis has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include oleanonic acid, 3-Epioleanolic acid, Condensed Tannins.

oleanonic acid

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

3-Epioleanolic acid

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Condensed Tannins

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Ekebergia capensis has 5 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Anticancer, Antiplasmodial, Antiproliferative, Cytotoxic.

Antioxidant

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Anticancer

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine

Antiplasmodial

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiproliferative

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine

Cytotoxic

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Medicinal Uses

Ekebergia capensis has 5 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Plasmodium falciparum, Inflammation, childbirth, malaria, pregnancy.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations