East African mahogany

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• East African Mahogany
• White Mahogany
• white-mahogany
• red-mahogany
• Nyasaland mahogany
• red or white mahogany

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Khaya wildemanii
• Garretia anthoteca

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 the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Sapindales and the family Meliaceae. Ultimately, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Khaya.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical range concentrated within the tropical regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is recorded in the nation of Guinea. Moving into West-Central Tropical Africa, the species can be found spanning across Burundi and the Central African Republic. It is also distributed throughout the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Consequently, its habitat is primarily defined by these specific West and West-Central African territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Khaya anthotheca is characterized by its preference for specific moisture-rich environments, primarily thriving within lowland rainforests and riparian forests. This species occupies a broad altitudinal gradient, demonstrating significant ecological plasticity across varying topographical landscapes. Its distribution extends from low-lying areas starting at an elevation of 10 m AMSL to much higher montane reaches, peaking at an elevational range maximum of 2000 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

10 m AMSL

Habitat :

lowland rainforest, and riparian forest

Life history

The life history of Khaya anthotheca is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the species to persist in its natural habitat over many years. As a woody plant, it is classified under the life form of phanerophyte, specifically exhibiting traits consistent with both phanerophyte and phanerophyte classifications, which indicates that its perennating buds are borne on aerial shoots well above the ground.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Khaya anthotheca is characterized by its stature as a large, woody tree. It is a self-supporting, independent organism that does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. The plant exhibits significant variation in its vertical dimension, with heights ranging from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of approximately 54.86 meters, resulting in an average plant height of 52.5 meters. As a woody species, it possesses a sturdy structural framework typical of large forest trees.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

54.86466715 m

Plant height mean:

52.5 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Khaya anthotheca is characterized by its reliance on the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic strategy among many tropical forest trees that involves the direct fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide through the enzyme Rubisco. This pathway dictates the plant's carbon assimilation efficiency and water-use dynamics within its natural habitat. Furthermore, regarding its nutrient cycling capabilities, the species is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria necessary to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, thus relying instead on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil to meet its nitrogenous requirements for growth and development.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Khaya anthotheca is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily driven by insect vectors. This reliance on biological agents for pollen transfer ensures the genetic exchange necessary for the species' survival. Following successful pollination, the plant produces seeds with varying physical dimensions, exhibiting a seed mass that ranges from a minimum of 0.1 g to a maximum of 0.34188 g. On average, the seed mass for this species is approximately 0.2346166665 g, reflecting a specific investment in seed size that influences its dispersal and establishment potential within its natural habitat.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.34188 g

Seed mass mean:

0.2346166665 g

Seed mass min:

0.1 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

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

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Seed

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Stem

1. Tropical medicine and health

Chemicals

Khaya anthotheca has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 7-DEACETYLKHIVORIN, Grandifolione, acetone.

7-DEACETYLKHIVORIN

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Grandifolione

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

acetone

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Khaya anthotheca has 3 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Antiplasmodial.

Antibacterial

1. PloS one

Antioxidant

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Antiplasmodial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Khaya anthotheca has 16 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, Enterococcus faecalis, Plasmodium falciparum.

Aspergillus fumigatus

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Candida albicans

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Cryptococcus neoformans

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Enterococcus faecalis

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Plasmodium falciparum

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Staphylococcus aureus

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Bacteria

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Candidiasis

1. Tropical medicine and health

Fevers

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Khaya anthotheca has 3 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include crude acetone extracts, petroleum ether extract, stem barks.

Crude acetone extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Petroleum ether extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Stem barks

1. Tropical medicine and health