Azobe

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Azobe
• ironwood

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lophira africana
• Lophira thollonii
• Lophira alata var. procera
• Lophira simplex
• Lophira macrophylla
• Lophira barteri
• Lophira procera

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Lophira alatata, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Malpighiales and the family Ochnacaceae. Its taxonomic hierarchy concludes with its designation in the genus Lophira.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Lophira alata, exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated within the West Tropical Africa region. Its presence has been documented across several distinct nations, including Benin and the Gambia. Furthermore, it can be found growing within the territories of Ghana and Guinea-Bissau. The species also extends its range into the country of Guinea. Together, these locations highlight the plant's importance to the tropical ecosystems of western Africa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Lophira alatata is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. It is classified under the life form of phanerophyte, a designation that repeats across its botanical profile, indicating that its perennating buds are located high above the ground on woody stems. Furthermore, this species exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, maintaining its foliage throughout the year rather than shedding it seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Lophira alata is characterized by its stature as a large, woody tree, exhibiting a robust growth form that allows it to reach significant dimensions. It is a terrestrial species that functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte. The plant displays a self-supporting climbing habit, though its primary structural identity is that of a massive tree. In terms of vertical development, it reaches an average plant height of approximately 37.5 m, with maximum recorded heights extending up to 54.86 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

54.86466715 m

Plant height mean:

37.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Lophira alata is characterized by its metabolic and nutritional strategies adapted to its tropical forest environment. The plant utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a mechanism common to many forest canopy species, involving the direct fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide through the enzyme RuBisCO. In terms of nutrient cycling, Lophira alata is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrates and ammonium from the soil rather than establishing symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Lophira alatata is characterized by a highly flexible phenological cycle, where both flowering and fruiting periods are categorized as variable throughout the year. The flowering stage can occur during any month from January through December, depending on environmental conditions, while the fruiting process follows a similarly variable schedule across the calendar months. The plant produces seeds with a distinct mass profile; the seed mass typically averages approximately 1.3 g, though individual seeds may range from a minimum of 1 g to a maximum of 1.6 g. This variability in timing and seed weight suggests an adaptive reproductive strategy that allows the species to respond to fluctuating seasonal patterns.

Flowering time :

Jan

Fruiting time :

variable

Seed mass max:

1.6 g

Seed mass mean:

1.3 g

Seed mass min:

1 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Lophira alata has 2 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, root.

Leaf

1. Drug research
2. Journal of natural products

Root

1. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry

Chemicals

Lophira alata has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Alatachalcone, Flavonoids, Lophirachalcone.

Alatachalcone

1. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry

Flavonoids

1. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry

Lophirachalcone

1. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry

Conditions

Lophira alata has 6 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, gastroenteritis, glioma, malaria, parasitemia.

Cancer

1. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry

Gastroenteritis

1. Heliyon

Glioma

1. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry

Malaria

1. Drug research

Parasitemia

1. Drug research

Tumor

1. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry

Preparations

Lophira alata has 3 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include leaf extracts, methanolic extracts, traditional herbal decoctions.

Leaf extracts

1. Drug research

Methanolic extracts

1. Parasitology research

Traditional herbal decoctions

1. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry