Gymnosporia obscura

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Maytenus obscura
• Celastrus obscurus
• Gymnosporia serrata var. obscura

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Celastrales and the family Celastraceae, it is specifically classified under the genus Gymnosporia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several key regions of the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, its presence is noted specifically in Burundi. Moving toward the northeast, it can be found within the territories of Ethiopia and the combined regions of Sudan and South Sudan. The species also extends into East Tropical Africa, where it is documented in Kenya. Finally, its geographical range continues southward into Tanzania.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Morphology

The morphology of Gymnosporia obscura is characterized by a woody growth form that presents as a tree or shrub-like structure. As a terrestrial organism, it functions as an independent plant, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte. Regarding its climbing habits, the plant is classified as a self-supporting climber, meaning it possesses the structural integrity to maintain its upright posture without relying on external supports.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Gymnosporia obscura is characterized by specific seed morphological traits that reflect its reproductive efficiency and dispersal potential. The seeds produced by this species exhibit a highly uniform mass, with no variance recorded across the sampled population. Specifically, the seed mass is consistent at a mean value of 0.00434 g, which is mirrored by both the maximum and minimum recorded values of 0.00434 g. This uniformity in seed mass suggests a highly stabilized reproductive mechanism, ensuring that each individual unit of progeny carries a standardized amount of nutrient reserves to facilitate early seedling establishment.

Seed mass mean:

0.00434 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Gymnosporia obscura has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ANTHRAQUINONE, Flavonoid, SAPONIN, Triterpenoid, phenol.

ANTHRAQUINONE

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine

Flavonoid

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine

SAPONIN

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine

Triterpenoid

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine

phenol

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine

Preparations

Gymnosporia obscura has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include alcoholic extracts, dichloromethane extracts.

Alcoholic extracts

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine

Dichloromethane extracts

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine