dwarf red ironwood

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Dwarf Red Ironwood
• false shea
• méni oiltree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further organized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Malpighiales. Finally, it falls within the family Ochnaceae and is identified by the genus Lophira.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Lophira lanceolata, exhibits a specific geographical distribution across the West Tropical Africa region. Its presence is well-documented in the nation of Benin, where it plays a role in the local ecosystem. The species can also be found extending through the territories of Burkina and the Gambia. Furthermore, its range continues into the coastal and inland areas of Ghana. Finally, the distribution of this medicinal plant reaches as far as Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Lophira lanceolata is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs at a significant height above the ground level, a structural strategy that defines its life form. Furthermore, this species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage seasonally as part of its natural phenological cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Lophira lanceolata is characterized by its stature as a large, woody tree. It functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte, maintaining a terrestrial existence. The plant exhibits a self-supporting growth habit, requiring no external climbing structures to maintain its vertical form. In terms of scale, its dimensions are substantial, with recorded heights ranging from a maximum of approximately 12.19 meters to a mean height of 15.5 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

12.19214826 m

Plant height mean:

15.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Lophira lanceolata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation process through the direct carboxylation of CO2 by the enzyme RuBisCO. This metabolic strategy involves the standard Calvin cycle, making the plant's energy production efficiency highly dependent on environmental conditions such as light intensity, temperature, and moisture availability. Furthermore, regarding its nutrient acquisition capabilities, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, and instead relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Lophira lanceolata is characterized by the development of indehiscent fruits, specifically classified as an achene. These fruits exhibit specific dimensional variations, with a mean length of 2.15 cm, ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 2.3 cm. In terms of width, the fruits measure between a minimum of 1.1 cm and a maximum of 1.3 cm, maintaining a mean width of 1.2 cm. The height of the fruit typically averages 1.2 cm, though it reaches a maximum and minimum threshold of 1.3 cm. Within these fruits, the seeds vary in mass, with a mean seed mass of 0.84151 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.61472 g to a maximum of 1.0683 g.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Fruit height max:

1.3 cm

Fruit height mean:

1.2 cm

Fruit length max:

2.3 cm

Fruit length mean:

2.15 cm

Fruit length min:

2 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Fruit width max:

1.3 cm

Fruit width mean:

1.2 cm

Fruit width min:

1.1 cm

Seed mass max:

1.0683 g

Seed mass mean:

0.84151 g

Seed mass min:

0.61472 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Lophira lanceolata 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. Phytochemistry

Chemicals

Lophira lanceolata has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoid, Lanceolin B, Lophirone A, Lophirone E, Steroid.

Flavonoid

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Lanceolin B

1. Phytochemistry

Lophirone A

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Lophirone E

1. Phytochemistry

Steroid

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Activities

Lophira lanceolata has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimalarial.

Antimalarial

1. Phytochemistry

Conditions

Lophira lanceolata has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Mycobacterium tuberculosis, malaria.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Malaria

1. Phytochemistry

Preparations

Lophira lanceolata has 2 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include methanol extract, stem bark.

Methanol extract

1. Annals of tropical medicine and parasitology

Stem bark

1. Phytochemistry