Ordeal Tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Ordeal Tree
• erun
• red-water-tree
• sasswoodtree
• sassy-bark-tree
• sassybark
• Forest ordeal tree
• sasswood

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Fillaea suaveolens
• Afzelia grandis
• Erythrophleum judiciale
• Mavia judicialis
• Erythrophleum ordale
• Erythrophleum guineense

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 and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is placed in the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Its scientific classification is completed by its designation within the genus Erythrophleum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Erythropheleum suaveolens, exhibits a specific distribution pattern across the West Tropical Africa region. Its presence is well-documented in the nation of Benin, where it grows within local ecosystems. The species can also be found in the territories of Burkina and Gambia. Furthermore, its geographical range extends into the country of Ghana. Finally, the plant is recorded as part of the flora in Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Erythrophleum suaveolens is characterized by its presence in diverse, moisture-rich environments, ranging from evergreen wet forests and swamp forests to (Hyphaene) wooded grasslands. This species thrives across a broad altitudinal gradient, occupying an elevational range that begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends up to a maximum of 1000 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

evergreen wet forest, swamp forest, (Hyphaene) wooded grassland

Life history

The life history of Erythrophleum suaveolenens is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth habit and ecological positioning, it is classified as a phanerophyte, specifically categorized under both the broader phanerophyte and the more specific nanophanerophyte life forms. This indicates that its perennating buds are elevated above the ground level, a trait that defines its survival strategy and physical architecture within its natural habitat.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Erythrophleum suaveolens is characterized by its stature as a large, woody tree, reaching a mean height of approximately 17.5 m, with a maximum recorded height of up to 30.48 m. This species exhibits a self-supporting growth habit, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or a climber such as a liana or vine. It is classified as a terrestrial plant, lacking aquatic or epiphytic tendencies, and maintains a robust, woody structure throughout its development.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

30.48037064 m

Plant height mean:

17.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Erythropheleum suaveolens is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a mechanism where carbon fixation occurs primarily through the enzyme Rubisco within the mesophyll cells during the Calvin cycle. This pathway dictates the plant's metabolic efficiency and its specific requirements for water and light intensity to sustain biomass production. Furthermore, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria, such as Rhizobium, necessary to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms; consequently, its nutritional physiological processes are entirely dependent on the uptake of nitrogenous compounds available within the soil substrate.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Erythrophleum suaveolens is characterized by the production of dry fruits and seeds that exhibit significant morphological variation. The seeds are relatively substantial, with a mean mass of 0.66218 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.40291 g to a maximum of 0.92145 g. In terms of physical dimensions, the seed volume is consistently sized, with a mean volume of 1050 mm³, falling within a specific range between a minimum of 1000 mm³ and a maximum of 1100 mm³. The dispersal syndrome of this species is classified as unspecialized, utilizing a diverse combination of mechanisms including anemochory (wind dispersal), zoochory (animal dispersal), autochory (self-dispersal), and hydrochory (water dispersal) to ensure the distribution of its offspring across various environments.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Fruit dryness :

dry

Seed mass max:

0.92145 g

Seed mass mean:

0.66218 g

Seed mass min:

0.40291 g

Seed volume max:

1100 mm³

Seed volume mean:

1050 mm³

Seed volume min:

1000 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Erythrophleum suaveolens 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. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Erythrophleum suaveolens has 9 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CASSAINE, Cassaidine, Cassamine, ERYTHROPHLEINE, Erythrophlamine.

CASSAINE

1. Dr. Duke

Cassaidine

1. Dr. Duke

Cassamine

1. Dr. Duke

ERYTHROPHLEINE

1. Dr. Duke

Erythrophlamine

1. Dr. Duke

Erythrophleguine

1. Dr. Duke

Norcassamidide

1. Dr. Duke

Norcassamine

1. Dr. Duke

Norerythrosuamine

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Erythrophleum suaveolens has 17 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic, Abortifacient, Analgesic, Anesthetic, Antifungal.

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Anesthetic

1. Dr. Duke

Antifungal

1. Mycoses

Antiseptic

1. Dr. Duke

Cardiac

1. Dr. Duke

Cardiotonic

1. Dr. Duke

Convulsant

1. Dr. Duke

Digitalic

1. Dr. Duke

Preparations