African Redwood

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• African Redwood

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Hagenia anthelmintica
• Brayera anthelmintica
• Banksia abyssinica
• Brayera abyssinica
• Cusso abyssinica
• Hagenia abyssinica var. viridifolia
• Brayera anthelmintica var. psilanthera
• Brayera anthelmintica var. epirhagadotricha

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Hagenia abyssinica, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Rosales and the family Rosaceae. Its taxonomic identity is completed by its placement within the genus Hagenia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several key regions of the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found growing in Burundi and Rwanda. The species is also documented within the vast landscapes of the DR Congo. Moving toward Northeast Tropical Africa, its presence extends into Eritrea. Finally, it is well-established in the highland regions of Ethiopia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Hagenia abyssinica is defined by its specific niche within African montane ecosystems, where it primarily flourishes in high-altitude environments. Although certain ecological surveys may note its presence in various topographical zones, its distribution is most characteristic of Afro-alpine and sub-alpine belts. While some instances of its presence might be observed in lower elevations, its optimal growth occurs in the moist, temperate conditions of highland forests and scrublands. It typically thrives in areas with high humidity and well-drained soils, often serving as a key component of the canopy in transitional montane vegetation zones.

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Hagenia abyssinicica is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to establish long-term presence within its high-altitude afro-alpine ecosystem. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its reproductive buds well above the ground level, typically developing into a large, woody tree or shrub structure that can dominate its habitat. Its biological classification as a phanerophyte ensures that its vital structures are elevated and protected, facilitating a stable life cycle that persists through various seasonal shifts over many years.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Hagenia abyssinicica is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree, reaching an average plant height of approximately 15 m. As an independent organism, it does not function as a parasite and is classified as a terrestrial plant rather than an epiphyte. The plant is a self-supporting species, meaning it does not require external structures for climbing, maintaining its structural integrity through its woody composition.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

15 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Hagenia abyssinica is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which involves the direct fixation of carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle, a common adaptation for plants growing in the temperate and afro-alpine environments it inhabits. In terms of nutrient acquisition and symbiotic relationships, this species is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized root nodules required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a bioavailable form and must instead rely on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Hagenia abyssinica is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, relying on living organisms to facilitate the transfer of pollen. Specifically, the plant utilizes insect-mediated pollination, with bees serving as a key functional group in the fertilization process. The species exhibits a lack of self-fertilization, indicating that it is an obligate outcrosser, which promotes genetic diversity within populations. Following successful pollination, the plant produces seeds with a highly variable mass, ranging from a minimum of 0.0025 g to a maximum of 4.202 g, with a calculated mean seed mass of 2.10225 g.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

4.202 g

Seed mass mean:

2.10225 g

Seed mass min:

0.0025 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Hagenia abyssinica has 3 reported plant parts identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower, leaf, root.

Flower

1. Journal of experimental pharmacology
2. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
4. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
5. PloS one

Leaf

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Root

1. BMC veterinary research

Chemicals

Hagenia abyssinica has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Ledol, Vanillic acid, p-Hydroxybenzoic acid, protocatechuic acid.

Ledol

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Vanillic acid

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

p-Hydroxybenzoic acid

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

protocatechuic acid

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Activities

Hagenia abyssinica has 2 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anthelmintic, Cytotoxic.

Anthelmintic

1. Parasitology
2. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Cytotoxic

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Conditions

Hagenia abyssinica has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include diabetes mellitus, anthelmintic, bacterial infections, diarrhea, optic atrophy.

Diabetes mellitus

1. Journal of experimental pharmacology
2. Metabolism open

Anthelmintic

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Bacterial infections

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Diarrhea

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Optic atrophy

1. Toxicology and applied pharmacology

Preparations

Hagenia abyssinica has 12 reported preparations identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include solvent fractions, 80% methanolic flower crude extract, Essential oils, Kosso, ethanol extracts.

Solvent fractions

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Journal of experimental pharmacology

80% methanolic flower crude extract

1. Journal of experimental pharmacology

Essential oils

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Kosso

1. Toxicology and applied pharmacology

Ethanol extracts

1. PloS one

Ethyl acetate fraction

1. Journal of experimental pharmacology

Flower crude extract

1. Journal of experimental pharmacology

Flower extract

1. Journal of experimental pharmacology

Flowers

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Methanol crude extract

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM