False Marula

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• False Marula
• false-marula

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Odina schweinfurthii
• Calesiam schweinfurthii

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. Following its placement in the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Sapindales, it is further categorized into the family Anacardiaceae. Ultimately, the species is identified by its genus, Lannea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several key regions of the African continent. Within West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found growing in both Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its presence extends into Northeast Tropical Africa, where it is documented in Ethiopia and Somalia. Additionally, the species inhabits the territories of Sudan and South Sudan. Together, these locations highlight its ability to thrive across various tropical environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Lannea schweinfurthii is characterized by its presence across a diverse range of terrestrial ecosystems, including wooded grassland, bushed grassland, semi-evergreen bushland, dry forest, and various woodland formations. This plant exhibits significant altitudinal adaptability, thriving within an elevational range that extends from a minimum of 30 m AMSL to a maximum of 1370 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1370 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

30 m AMSL

Habitat :

wooded grassland, bushed grassland, semi-evergreen bushland, dry forest, woodland

Life history

The life history of Lannea schweinfurthii is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle in a single year. Throughout its existence, the species exhibits a deciduous growth habit, meaning it undergoes a seasonal shedding of its foliage, typically in response to unfavorable environmental conditions or seasonal shifts.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Lannea schweinfurthii is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that functions as a self-supporting plant. It is a terrestrial species that grows independently, lacking parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. The plant exhibits significant variation in stature, with its height ranging from a minimum of 2 meters to a maximum of 18 meters, maintaining an average height of approximately 9 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

18 m

Plant height mean:

9 m

Plant height min:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Lannea schweinfurthii is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing the standard Calvin cycle for carbon fixation without the specialized anatomical adaptations found in C4 or CAM plants. In terms of nutrient acquisition, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, lacking the symbiotic relationships with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Lannea schweinfurthii is characterized by specific seed morphological traits that define its dispersal potential. The seeds exhibit a notable range in mass, with a minimum weight of 0.025 g and a maximum of 0.13699 g, resulting in an average seed mass of 0.07903 g. In terms of physical dimensions, the seed volume remains remarkably consistent, with both the minimum and maximum recorded volumes, as well as the mean volume, standing at exactly 79 mm³. These quantitative parameters provide a detailed profile of the plant's reproductive output and the physical properties of its progeny.

Seed mass max:

0.13699 g

Seed mass mean:

0.07903 g

Seed mass min:

0.025 g

Seed volume max:

79 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Lannea schweinfurthii has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include stem.

Stem

1. Planta medica

Chemicals

Lannea schweinfurthii has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Anthocyanins, Flavonoids, Glycosides, Phenols, Saponins.

Anthocyanins

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Flavonoids

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Glycosides

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Phenols

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Saponins

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Steroids

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Tannins

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Terpenoids

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Lannea schweinfurthii has 5 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiviral, Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Antiplasmodial, Hepatoprotective.

Antiviral

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antibacterial

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiplasmodial

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Hepatoprotective

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Medicinal Uses

Lannea schweinfurthii has 10 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include neurological disorders, Alzheimer's disease, E. coli, HIV-2, Herpes Simplex Virus type 1.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations