Narrow-Leaved Peacock-Bush

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Narrow-Leaved Peacock-Bush
• hairy peacockberry

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cicca discoidea
• Diasperus discoideus
• Phyllanthus discoideus

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 falls under the order Malpighiales and the family Phyllanthaceae. Its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Margaritaria and the species Margaritaria discoidea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Margaritaria discoidea, is primarily found within the diverse landscapes of West Tropical Africa. Its documented presence begins in the coastal and inland regions of Benin. Furthermore, it can be identified across the territories of Burkina and the Gambia. The species also extends its range into the country of Ghana. Finally, its geographical distribution includes the coastal nation of Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Margaritaria discoidea is characterized by its presence in diverse forest environments, ranging from moist to dry forests as well as fragmented forest remnants. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, inhabiting landscapes that span from lowlands at an elevation of 5 m AMSL to higher montane regions reaching a maximum of 1500 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

5 m AMSL

Habitat :

moist or dry forest or forest remnants

Life history

The life history of Margaritaria discoidea is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist across multiple growing seasons. It exhibits a complex morphological strategy, classified under both phanerophyte and nanophanerophyte life forms, which dictates its growth habit and structural development. Furthermore, the species follows a deciduous pattern, shedding its foliage as part of its seasonal biological cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Margaritaria discoidea is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree. It is a terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor as an epiphyte. The plant is self-supporting rather than being a climber, liana, or vine. In terms of its vertical stature, it exhibits significant size variation, with plant heights ranging from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of approximately 30.48 meters, maintaining a mean height of about 18 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

30.48037064 m

Plant height mean:

18 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Margaritaria discoidea is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation mechanisms and metabolic efficiency in converting light energy into chemical energy. As a C3 plant, it utilizes the Calvin cycle directly without the specialized carbon-concentrating mechanisms found in C4 or CAM species, making its gas exchange and water-use efficiency highly dependent on ambient environmental conditions. Furthermore, the species does not function as 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 available nitrogenous compounds from the soil substrate to support its metabolic processes and growth.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Margaritaria discoidea is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily relying on insect vectors for successful fertilization. Within this pollination framework, the plant interacts with various organisms, including ants, to facilitate the movement of pollen. Notably, self-fertilization is absent in this species, necessitating cross-pollination to maintain genetic diversity. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces fruit in the form of a capsule. These fruits are dehiscence-type, meaning they open at maturity to release the seeds. The seeds produced vary in weight, with a minimum mass of 0.00848 g and a maximum mass of 0.02581 g, resulting in an average seed mass of approximately 0.0194316665 g.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Fruit type :

capsule

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

ant

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.02581 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0194316665 g

Seed mass min:

0.00848 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Margaritaria discoidea 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 stem, leaf.

Stem

1. Revista de biologia tropical
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Margaritaria discoidea has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Securinine, Gallic acid, Viroallosecurinine, betulinic acid.

Securinine

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

Gallic acid

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Viroallosecurinine

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

betulinic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Margaritaria discoidea has 19 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Anthelmintic, AntiHIV, Antibacterial, Anticancer.

Analgesic

1. Revista de biologia tropical

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiedemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Antileukemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antimalarial

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Margaritaria discoidea has 7 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include antimalarial, epilepsy, inflammations, malaria, ovarian cancer.

Antimalarial

1. Planta medica

Epilepsy

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Inflammations

1. Revista de biologia tropical

Malaria

1. BioImpacts : BI

Ovarian cancer

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Pain

1. Revista de biologia tropical

Seizure

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Margaritaria discoidea has 6 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include alkaloid fraction, aqueous extract of its stem bark, decoctions, leaf extracts, lyophilized aqueous extract (LWE).

Alkaloid fraction

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous extract of its stem bark

1. Revista de biologia tropical

Decoctions

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Leaf extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Lyophilized aqueous extract (lwe)

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Organic and aqueous extracts

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology