Magic-Nut

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Magic-Nut
• Redskin

Scientific Names

Accepted name

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. Within the order Malpighiales, it is classified under the family Euphorbiaceae and is identified by the genus Maprounea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is distributed across several distinct regions within the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is specifically noted in Benin and Nigeria. Moving into the West-Central Tropical Africa zone, the species can be found in the Central African Republic. It also inhabits the territory of Cameroon within this same central region. Finally, its geographical range extends further into the Congo.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Maprounea africana is characterized by its specific preference for forest environments, where it thrives within the structural complexity of the woodland or tropical forest canopy. This species occupies a specialized altitudinal niche, existing within a defined elevational range that spans from a minimum of 850 m AMSL to a maximum of 1000 m AMSL. This relatively narrow vertical distribution suggests that the plant is adapted to the specific microclimatic conditions, such as temperature gradients and moisture levels, found within these mid-to-high altitude forest ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

850 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest

Life history

The life history of Maprounea africanana is characterized by its existence as a perennial species, ensuring its presence in the ecosystem across multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its conductive organs and buds above the ground, typically manifesting as a woody shrub or small tree. Its growth strategy also includes a nanophanerophyte stage or aspect, where its stature may be relatively low while still maintaining elevated buds. Furthermore, the plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage periodically, which likely serves as an adaptation to seasonal environmental shifts or moisture availability.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Maprounea africana is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree. It functions as a self-supporting organism, neither acting as a climber (such as a liana or vine) nor as a parasite, maintaining an independent biological existence. The plant is strictly terrestrial in its habitat, lacking aquatic or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of physical stature, it exhibits significant vertical development, with a minimum plant height of 1.5 m, an average height of approximately 6 m, and a maximum height reaching up to 8 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

8 m

Plant height mean:

6 m

Plant height min:

1.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Maprounea africana is characterized by complex metabolic processes adapted to its native tropical environments, primarily focusing on its nutritional acquisition and resource management. In terms of nutrient cycling, the plant does not exhibit the physiological capacity to function as a nitrogen fixer; it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria, such as Rhizobium, required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, meaning it relies entirely on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil. Its metabolic framework involves standard photosynthetic pathways to convert solar energy into chemical energy, supporting its growth and the synthesis of secondary metabolites used for medicinal purposes. The plant's water relations and transpiration rates are finely tuned to maintain turgor pressure and facilitate the transport of minerals through its vascular system, ensuring efficient physiological homeostasis within its ecological niche.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Maprounea africanana is characterized by the production of seeds that exhibit a highly consistent mass across observations. Based on botanical data, the seeds possess a uniform seed mass, with a mean value of 0.063 g. This consistency is reflected in the recorded range, as both the maximum and minimum seed mass values are identical at 0.063 g. This lack of variance in seed weight suggests a highly stabilized reproductive strategy regarding the energy allocation and nutrient density provided to each individual seed produced by the plant.

Seed mass mean:

0.063 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Maprounea africana 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 root, leaf.

Root

1. Journal of natural products
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Maprounea africana has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Koumbalone A, Koumbalone B, Maprounic acid.

Koumbalone A

1. Journal of natural products

Koumbalone B

1. Journal of natural products

Maprounic acid

1. Journal of natural products

Activities

Maprounea africana has 1 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Spasmolytic.

Spasmolytic

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Conditions

Maprounea africana has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Entamoeba histolytica, human immunodeficiency virus-1.

Entamoeba histolytica

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Human immunodeficiency virus-1

1. Journal of natural products

Preparations

Maprounea africana has 4 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanolic extract of the leaves, extracts from root bark, organic extract, polyphenolic extracts.

Ethanolic extract of the leaves

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Extracts from root bark

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Organic extract

1. Journal of natural products

Polyphenolic extracts

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology