Maerua oblongifolia

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Maerua arenaria var. glabra
• Capparis oblongifolia
• Maerua virgata
• Crateva oblongifolia
• Streblocarpus scabra
• Maerua oblongifolia var. mithridatica
• Niebuhria oblongifolia
• Capparis mithridatica
• Streblocarpus angustifolia
• Maerua oblongifolia var. amphilahensis
• Niebuhria arenaria
• Capparis heteroclita
• Streblocarpus oblongifolia
• Maerua virgata var. glabra
• Capparis heterogenea
• Streblocarpus ovalifolia
• Maerua oblongifolia var. glabra
• Maerua arenaria var. scabra
• Maerua oblongifolia var. scabra
• Maerua ovalifolia
• Maerua dasyura
• Maerua dolichobotrys
• Maerua lanzae
• Maerua rogeonii
• Maerua scebelensis
• Maerua scabra
• Maerua albomarginata
• Maerua amphilahensis

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 is further categorized under the order Brassicales and the family Capparaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Maerua, specifically as the species Maerua oblongifolia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Maerua oblongifolia, exhibits a specific distribution across the West Tropical Africa region. It can be found growing within the borders of Benin and Burkina Faso. Additionally, its presence extends into the territory of Ghana. The species is also documented to inhabit parts of Mali. Finally, its geographical range reaches as far as Mauritania.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Maerua oblongifolia is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth strategy, it exhibits diverse life form classifications, functioning as both a phanerophyte and a chamaephyte, which dictates its survival mechanisms and how its buds are positioned relative to the ground surface.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Maerua oblongifolia is characterized by a woody growth form that functions as a shrub. It exhibits a self-supporting climbing habit, allowing it to maintain its structure within its habitat. As an independent organism, it does not function as a parasite and maintains a terrestrial lifestyle rather than being epiphytic. In terms of physical stature, the plant reaches a maximum height of approximately 0.91 meters.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.914411119 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Maerua oblongifolia is characterized by a metabolic framework centered on the C3 photosynthetic pathway. In this process, carbon dioxide is initially fixed into a three-carbon compound, 3-phosphoglycerate, via the enzyme Rubisco during the Calvin cycle. This C3 mechanism dictates the plant's gas exchange patterns and water-use efficiency, as it lacks the specialized CO2-concentrating mechanisms found in C4 or CAM species. Consequently, its physiological performance, including carbon assimilation rates and stomatal conductance, is highly sensitive to ambient temperature and light intensity, requiring a balance between maximizing photosynthetic output and minimizing transpiration losses in its natural environment.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Maerua oblongifolia has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CATALASE, CHLOROPHYLL, Superoxide dismutase, proline.

CATALASE

1. Scientific reports

CHLOROPHYLL

1. Scientific reports

Superoxide dismutase

1. Scientific reports

proline

1. Scientific reports

Conditions

Maerua oblongifolia has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include lipid peroxidation.

Lipid peroxidation

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)