Euclea divinorum

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across various regions of the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found growing in Burundi and Rwanda. Its presence continues through the expansive territories of the DR Congo within that same central region. Moving toward Northeast Tropical Africa, the species is also documented in Djibouti. Finally, its geographical range extends into the highland areas of Ethiopia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Euclea divinorum is characterized by its significant adaptability across diverse landscapes and varying altitudes. This species thrives within a broad elevational range, occurring from as low as 30 m AMSL to a maximum altitude of 1840 m AMSL. Its habitat preferences are highly versatile, allowing it to colonize a variety of ecosystems including the margins of dry forests, riverine bushlands or forests, and (semi-) evergreen bushland. Furthermore, the plant is frequently found in more open environments, such as within bushland grasslands, pastures, and wooded grasslands, even showing a tendency to grow on anthills.

Elevational range max:

1840 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

30 m AMSL

Habitat :

dry forest (margins), riverine bushland or forest, in bushed grassland or pastures, (semi-) evergreen bushland and in wooded grasland on anthills

Life history

The life history of Euclea divinorum is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on visible branches above the ground, contributing to its structural presence in its habitat. It further exhibits the characteristics of a nanophanerophyte, indicating a growth habit where the woody parts are relatively small or close to the ground level. Throughout its existence, the plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that it retains its foliage year-round rather than shedding it seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Euclea divinorum is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree. This species is a self-supporting, independent organism that does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial habit. In terms of stature, the plant typically reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 2 meters to a maximum of 6 meters, with an average plant height of approximately 8 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

6 m

Plant height mean:

8 m

Plant height min:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Euclea divinorum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing the standard Calvin cycle to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic compounds. As a non-nitrogen-fixing species, the plant lacks specialized symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, such as rhizobia, and must rely on the uptake of available nitrates and ammonium from the soil to meet its nutritional requirements for protein and enzyme synthesis.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Euclea divinorum is characterized by a specialized reproductive strategy involving the production of indehiscent fruits categorized as drupes. These fruits are relatively small, maintaining an average length and width of 0.85 cm. Within these fruits, the seeds exhibit a mean mass of approximately 0.091086667 g, with individual seed weights ranging from a minimum of 0.07303 g to a maximum of 0.11772 g. The plant utilizes a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on animals to aid in the distribution of its seeds. Furthermore, the reproductive process is marked by the absence of self-fertilization, necessitating cross-pollination to ensure genetic diversity and successful seed production.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit length mean:

0.85 cm

Fruit type :

drupe

Fruit width mean:

0.85 cm

Seed mass max:

0.11772 g

Seed mass mean:

0.091086667 g

Seed mass min:

0.07303 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Euclea divinorum has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root.

Leaf

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Root

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Chemicals

Euclea divinorum has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Betulin.

Betulin

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Euclea divinorum has 12 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include AntiHIV, Anticarcinomic, Antifeedant, Antiflu, Antiinflammatory.

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antifeedant

1. Dr. Duke

Antiflu

1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke

Aphidifuge

1. Dr. Duke

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke

Hypolipemic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Euclea divinorum has 10 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include breast cancer, gonorrhea, hemolysis, malaria, miscarriage.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations