Macaranga kilimandscharica

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across several regions of the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found growing in Burundi, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Moving toward the eastern side of the continent, its range extends into Northeast Tropical Africa. Within this northeastern zone, the species is documented in Ethiopia. Finally, its geographical presence continues through the regions of Sudan and South Sudan.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Macaranga kilimandscharica is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated structures, specifically functioning as a phanerophyte that protects its buds above the soil surface. This life form ensures its survival and structural dominance within its ecological niche, sustaining its growth and reproductive capabilities over an extended temporal period.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Macaranga kilimandscharica is characterized by its robust, woody growth form, specifically existing as a tree. It functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial habitat. As a self-supporting species, it does not exhibit climbing or vining tendencies, instead relying on its own structural integrity to reach significant dimensions. The plant displays considerable verticality, with a minimum height of 6 m and a mean plant height reaching approximately 19.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

19.5 m

Plant height min:

6 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Macaranga kilimandscharica is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation process through the direct carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate by the enzyme RuBisCO. This metabolic route implies that the plant undergoes photorespiration under conditions of high temperature or limited water availability, typical of many tropical and sub-tropical forest environments. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms and must instead rely on the uptake of nitrates or ammonium from the soil to meet its nutritional requirements for protein synthesis and enzymatic functions.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Macaranga kilimandscharica is characterized by a specific suite of morphological and biological traits. The plant produces fruit categorized under the "other" type, specifically manifesting as dry structures with a mean length of 0.7 cm and a mean width of 0.7 cm. Within these fruits, the seeds maintain a consistent volume, with both the minimum, maximum, and mean values recorded at 34 mm³. Regarding its reproductive strategy, self-fertilization is absent, indicating a reliance on cross-pollination mechanisms. Furthermore, the dispersal of its reproductive units follows a zoochorous syndrome, meaning the seeds are distributed via animals.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length mean:

0.7 cm

Fruit type :

other

Fruit width mean:

0.7 cm

Seed volume max:

34 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Macaranga kilimandscharica 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, stem.

Leaf

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Stem

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Conditions

Macaranga kilimandscharica has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include measles.

Measles

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Macaranga kilimandscharica has 2 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanolic extracts, leaves.

Ethanolic extracts

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Leaves

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology