Umbrella Tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Umbrella Tree
• musizi
• umbrella-tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Maesopsis tessmannii
• Maesopsis berchemioides
• Maesopsis eminii subsp. berchemioides
• Karlea berchemioides

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is classified within the order Rosales and the family Rhamnaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Maesopsis, specifically as the species Maesopsis eminii.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Maesopsis eminii, is found across several specific regions within West Tropical Africa. Its distribution includes the country of Benin, where it grows in local ecosystems. It is also documented to occur within the borders of Ghana. Furthermore, the species can be located in Guinea and the Ivory Coast. Finally, the geographical range of this medicinal plant extends into Liberia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Maesopsis eminii is fundamentally defined by its association with stable, well-established forest ecosystems, specifically thriving within both old secondary and primary forests. By occupying these complex forest structures, the species benefits from the unique microclimatic conditions, nutrient cycling, and soil compositions characteristic of mature woodland environments. Its presence in primary forests indicates a capacity to integrate into undisturbed ecological niches, while its ability to inhabit old secondary forests suggests a level of resilience and suitability for recovering forest successions where canopy structure and shade regimes are sufficiently developed.

Habitat :

old secondary and primary forest

Life history

The life history of Maesopsis eminii is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, ensuring its long-term presence within its ecological niche. In terms of its structural development and growth habit, the species is classified as a phanerophyte, specifically exhibiting traits consistent with both phanerophyte and nanophanerophyte life forms, where its buds are elevated well above the ground level.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Maesopsis eminii is characterized by its significant stature and robust structural composition. As a woody tree, it exhibits a self-supporting growth form and functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. The plant reaches considerable heights within its ecosystem, with recorded measurements ranging from a minimum of 15 m to a maximum of approximately 27.43 m, maintaining an average height of 25 m. Unlike climbing vines or lianas, its architecture is entirely self-supporting, allowing it to achieve its large, tree-like proportions through a solid, woody stem.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

27.43233358 m

Plant height mean:

25 m

Plant height min:

15 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Maesopsis eminii is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing the standard Calvin cycle for carbon fixation, which typically involves the direct carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate by the enzyme RuBisCO. In terms of its nutrient acquisition processes, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into biologically available forms and must instead rely on the uptake of nitrogenous compounds, such as nitrates or ammonium, directly from the soil through its root system.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Maesopsis eminii is characterized by specific seed morphology and specialized dispersal strategies. The plant produces seeds with a consistent volume of 2100 mm³, a value that remains constant across both its minimum and maximum measurements, as well as its mean. These seeds exhibit a varied mass, ranging from a minimum of 0.87548 g to a maximum of 1.818 g, with an average seed mass of approximately 1.311826667 g. The reproductive process involves the production of fleshy fruits, which facilitates a zoochorous dispersal syndrome. More specifically, the plant utilizes endozoochory, a process where seeds are dispersed through the digestive tracts of animals, ensuring the spread of the species across its habitat.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Seed mass max:

1.818 g

Seed mass mean:

1.311826667 g

Seed mass min:

0.87548 g

Seed volume max:

2100 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Maesopsis eminii has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include STIGMASTEROL.

STIGMASTEROL

1. Journal of natural products

Preparations