Garcinia epunctata

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Garcinia balala
• Garcinia kuluensis
• Garcinia klainei
• Garcinia brieyi
• Garcinia cereoflava
• Garcinia bequaertii
• Garcinia sordidoluteola
• Garcinia nyangensis
• Garcinia obscura
• Garcinia mimfiensis

Sources: Wikidata

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 categorized under the order Malpighiales and the family Clusiaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is established within the genus Garcinia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed throughout the West Tropical Africa region. Within this zone, it can be specifically located in the country of Ghana. Its presence is also documented across the borders of Guinea and the Ivory Coast. Furthermore, the species extends its reach into the territory of Liberia. Finally, the geographical range of this medicinal plant includes Nigeria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Garcinia epunctata is characterized by its classification as a phanerophyte, a life form where the perennating buds are located high above the ground on aerial shoots. Within this classification, it specifically exhibits traits of both a phanerophyte and a nanophanerophyte, indicating a growth habit that typically forms small to medium-sized woody structures. As a perennial species, it maintains its vegetative biomass through successive growing seasons, relying on its elevated meristems to survive unfavorable environmental conditions. This life strategy allows the plant to establish a stable presence within its ecological niche, utilizing its woody architecture to support reproductive structures and sustain long-term growth.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Garcinia epunctata is characterized by a woody growth form that primarily functions as a tree, reaching a maximum plant height of approximately 15.24 meters. While it exhibits characteristics of a climber, specifically manifesting as a self-supporting liana or vine, it is categorized as a self-supporting plant rather than an obligatory or facultative climber. As a terrestrial species, it grows in the soil rather than as an epiphyte, maintaining a robust, woody structure throughout its development.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Plant height max:

15.24018532 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Garcinia epunctata is characterized primarily by its utilization of the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a fundamental metabolic process where carbon dioxide is fixed directly into a three-carbon compound during the initial stage of the Calvin cycle. As a C3 plant, its physiological efficiency is highly dependent on environmental conditions such as light intensity, temperature, and water availability, as it lacks the specialized carbon-concentrating mechanisms found in C4 or CAM species. This metabolic framework dictates its gas exchange patterns, where stomatal conductance plays a critical role in balancing the intake of CO2 for biomass production against the potential for transpiration-driven water loss. Consequently, the plant's physiological performance and carbon assimilation rates are closely tied to its ability to manage water use efficiency within its specific ecological niche.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Garcinia epunctata has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Betulin, Epunctanone, Mundulea lactone, Seputhecarpan A, Seputheisoflavone.

Betulin

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Epunctanone

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Mundulea lactone

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Seputhecarpan A

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Seputheisoflavone

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

taxifolin-6-C-glucoside

1. Journal of natural products