Silkrubber

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Silkrubber
• Ive-rubber
• Lagos silk rubbertree
• Lagos-rubber
• West African rubbertree
• bush-rubber
• Lagos caoutchouc

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Kibatalia elastica
• Kixia elastica

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 class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Gentianales and the family Apocynaceae. Its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Funtumia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across the lush landscapes of West Tropical Africa. Within this specific region, it can be found growing in the diverse ecosystems of Benin. Its natural range also extends through the territories of Ghana and Guinea. Furthermore, the species is well-established within the tropical forests of Ivory Coast. Finally, its geographical presence includes the coastal and inland areas of Liberia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Funtumia elasticas is characterized by its existence as a perennial organism, ensuring its presence in its natural ecosystem over many successive growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody stems, a structural adaptation that defines its growth habit and survival strategy. Furthermore, the plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its foliage throughout the year, providing a continuous photosynthetic capacity that is typical of many tropical species.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Funtumia elasticia is characterized by its robust, woody structure, primarily exhibiting a growth form that ranges from a shrub to a substantial tree. As a self-supporting plant, it does not function as a climber or a liana, nor does it act as an epiphyte or a parasite, maintaining an independent, terrestrial existence. The plant's stature is significant, with a mean height of approximately 22.5 m, though individual specimens may reach a maximum height of about 18.288 m. This woody architecture allows it to dominate its terrestrial habitat through a sturdy, upright growth habit.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

18.28822238 m

Plant height mean:

22.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Funtumia elastica is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, meaning it utilizes the standard Calvin cycle to fix carbon dioxide through the enzyme RuBisCO, which is typical for many woody tropical species. In terms of nutrient acquisition and symbiotic relationships, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer, as it lacks the specialized root nodules required to host nitrogen-fixing bacteria for the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Funtumia elasticia is characterized by a highly flexible phenological cycle, as both its flowering and fruiting periods are variable and can occur across any month of the year, from January through December. This temporal variability suggests that the plant can adapt its reproductive stages to shifting environmental conditions rather than following a strict seasonal pattern. The resulting seeds are remarkably uniform in size, maintaining a consistent seed mass with a mean, maximum, and minimum value of 0.034 g. Regarding the movement of its progeny, the species utilizes an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on wind currents to transport its seeds away from the parent plant to colonize new areas.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

variable

Fruiting time :

variable

Seed mass mean:

0.034 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Funtumia elastica 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, stem.

Leaf

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Stem

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Chemicals

Funtumia elastica has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Steroids, 5-hydroxypyridine-3-carboxamide, Anthocyanins, STARCH.

Flavonoids

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. The West Indian medical journal

Steroids

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. The West Indian medical journal

5-hydroxypyridine-3-carboxamide

1. Fitoterapia

Anthocyanins

1. The West Indian medical journal

STARCH

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Saponins

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Tannin

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Tannins

1. The West Indian medical journal

Activities

Funtumia elastica has 3 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antiparasitic, Antiplasmodial.

Antimicrobial

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Antiparasitic

1. Fitoterapia

Antiplasmodial

1. Fitoterapia

Medicinal Uses

Funtumia elastica has 10 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Aspergillus flavus, Candida albicans, LeiSHmania donovani, Plasmodium falciparum, asthma.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations