Golden Bell-bean

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Golden Beantree
• golden bellbean
• Golden bell-bean

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Markhamia verdickii
• Markhamia lanata
• Markhamia paucifoliolata
• Dolichandrone obtusifolia

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 Lamiales, it is classified under the family Bignoniaceae and is identified by the genus Markhamia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution across several regions of the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found in Burundi and the Central African Republic. The species also extends through the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda within that same West-Central zone. Moving toward the eastern side of the continent, its range reaches into East Tropical Africa. Specifically, this medicinal plant is documented to grow within the borders of Kenya.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Markhamia obtusifolia is characterized by a specific altitudinal niche, where it thrives within a narrow elevational range. This species is predominantly found at higher altitudes, specifically occupying a specialized zone between 910 m AMSL and 945 m AMSL. This restricted vertical distribution suggests that the plant is adapted to the particular climatic conditions, such as temperature gradients and moisture availability, found within this precise mountainous or hilly belt. Such a localized elevational profile indicates a high degree of environmental specialization, likely influenced by the specific soil compositions and atmospheric pressures unique to this altitude.

Elevational range max:

945 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

910 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Markhamia obtusifolia is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its growth architecture and survival strategy, it is classified as a phanerophyte, specifically exhibiting characteristics consistent with both phanerophyte and nanophanerophyte life forms. This means that its perennating buds are located well above the ground, typically on aerial stems, which enables the plant to withstand seasonal variations and maintain a structural presence in its ecological niche over a long-term lifecycle.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Markhamia obtusifolia is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically classified as a tree. This species is a self-supporting plant, meaning it does not function as a liana or vine, and it grows as an independent organism rather than a parasite. It is a terrestrial plant, lacking aquatic or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of its stature, the plant exhibits significant variation in size, with heights ranging from a minimum of 0.6 m to a maximum of 15 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 10 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15 m

Plant height mean:

10 m

Plant height min:

0.6 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Markhamia obtusifolia is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency under typical environmental conditions. As a C3 plant, it utilizes the enzyme RuBisCO to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide directly through the Calvin cycle, a process that is highly efficient in temperate to moist tropical environments but can be susceptible to photorespiration under high temperatures or water stress. Furthermore, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, thus relying instead on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the surrounding soil to meet its nitrogenous nutritional requirements.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Markhamia obtusifolia is characterized by specific seed morphologies and dispersal strategies designed for propagation. The plant produces seeds with a highly consistent mass, where both the minimum, mean, and maximum recorded values converge at 0.02264 g, indicating a uniform seed size within the species. In terms of its dispersal mechanism, the species primarily utilizes an anemochorous syndrome, meaning its seeds are adapted for dispersal by wind. While other potential dispersal modes such as zoochory, autochory, hydrochory, or unspecialized methods exist in various botanical contexts, the specific functional trait for this plant is identified as anemochorous, allowing the wind to facilitate the movement of its seeds away from the parent plant.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Seed mass mean:

0.02264 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Markhamia obtusifolia has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Heliyon

Chemicals

Markhamia obtusifolia has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Lignans, Phytosterols, Terpenoids.

Flavonoids

1. Pharmacognosy reviews

Lignans

1. Pharmacognosy reviews

Phytosterols

1. Pharmacognosy reviews

Terpenoids

1. Pharmacognosy reviews

Activities

Markhamia obtusifolia has 6 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antifungal, Antiinflammatory, Antiprotozoal, Antiviral.

Analgesic

1. Pharmacognosy reviews

Antifungal

1. Pharmacognosy reviews

Antiinflammatory

1. Pharmacognosy reviews

Antiprotozoal

1. Pharmacognosy reviews

Antiviral

1. Pharmacognosy reviews

Cytotoxic

1. Pharmacognosy reviews

Conditions

Markhamia obtusifolia has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Aspergillus flavus.

Aspergillus flavus

1. Heliyon

Preparations

Markhamia obtusifolia has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts.

Extracts

1. Heliyon