African blood plum

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• African blood plum

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Haematostaphis purpurascens

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized into the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Sapindales. Finally, it is a member of the family Anacardiaceae and is identified by the genus Haematostachis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Haematostachys barteri, is found across several specific regions within West Tropical Africa. Its distribution includes the country of Benin, where it grows within the local ecosystem. It is also documented to occur in Burkina Faso, expanding its range across the sub-region. Furthermore, the species is present in Ghana and the Ivory Coast, contributing to its regional presence. Finally, its geographical footprint extends into Nigeria, marking it as a significant plant in this part of the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Haematostachys barterii is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth strategy, it is classified as a phanerophyte, specifically exhibiting traits consistent with nanophanerophyte and phanerophyte life forms, which indicates that its perennating buds are located on aerial shoots well above the ground level.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Haematostachis barteri is characterized by its growth as a woody tree that can reach a maximum plant height of approximately 7.62 meters. As a climbing plant, it exhibits a self-supporting habit and functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite. It is a terrestrial species, growing directly in the soil rather than as an epiphyte.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

7.62009266 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Haematostachis barteri is characterized by its fundamental metabolic processes, most notably its utilization of the C3 photosynthetic pathway. In this process, carbon dioxide is initially fixed by the enzyme RuBisCO into a three-carbon compound, oxaloacetate, during the Calvin cycle. This metabolic strategy dictates the plant's efficiency in gas exchange and water usage, as it relies on the opening of stomata during daylight hours to facilitate CO2 uptake, making its physiological performance highly dependent on environmental humidity and temperature. This C3 mechanism serves as the energetic foundation for the plant's growth, biomass production, and the biosynthesis of its secondary metabolites.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Haematostaphis barteri has 3 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include stem, leaf, root.

Stem

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Leaf

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Root

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Chemicals

Haematostaphis barteri has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Stilbenes.

Flavonoids

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Stilbenes

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Preparations

Haematostaphis barteri has 1 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include stem bark extract.

Stem bark extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology