Microdesmis keayana

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Microdesmis puberula var. chevalieri

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Microdesmis keayana, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae within the order Malpighiales. Furthermore, it is a member of the family Pandaceae and is specifically categorized under the genus Microdesmis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily found across the diverse landscapes of West Tropical Africa. Its geographical range includes specific populations located within the borders of Benin. Furthermore, it can be identified growing in the natural habitats of Ghana and Guinea. The species also maintains a presence throughout the coastal and inland regions of Ivory Coast. Finally, its documented distribution extends into the territory of Liberia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Microdesmis keayana is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist in its environment over many growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth strategy, it functions as a phanerophyte, maintaining its buds well above the ground level, while also exhibiting characteristics consistent with a nanophanerophyte, where the woody parts are relatively small and close to the soil surface.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Microdesmis keayana is characterized by a woody structure that can manifest as both a shrub and a tree. It typically reaches a mean plant height of 2.5 m and exhibits a self-supporting climbing habit. As an independent organism, it does not function as a parasite and maintains a terrestrial existence rather than an epiphytic one.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

2.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Microdesmis keayana is characterized by complex metabolic processes geared toward survival in its specific ecological niche, though it lacks the specialized symbiotic relationships required for atmospheric nitrogen sequestration. Specifically, regarding its nutrient acquisition strategies, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it does not possess the root nodules or the necessary biochemical pathways to convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia via diazotrophic bacteria. Instead, its physiological nitrogen uptake relies entirely on the absorption of nitrates and ammonium ions from the soil through its root system. Its metabolic framework is designed to optimize resource allocation for growth and secondary metabolite production, supporting its medicinal properties, while its overall nutrient cycling is dependent on the availability of organic matter in the substrate rather than biological nitrogen fixation.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Microdesmis keayana is characterized by specific biological mechanisms governing its sexual development. In terms of its reproductive strategy, the plant exhibits a clear distinction regarding its pollination capabilities; specifically, self-fertilization is absent, indicating that the species relies on cross-pollination to ensure genetic diversity. This absence of self-fertilization suggests a dependency on external vectors, such as insects or wind, to facilitate the transfer of pollen between different individuals. This mechanism plays a critical role in the plant's life cycle, ensuring that the resulting offspring possess the necessary genetic variation to adapt to its specific ecological niche.

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Microdesmis keayana has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

Chemicals

Microdesmis keayana has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include keayanidine A.

keayanidine A

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Activities

Microdesmis keayana has 1 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Hypotensive.

Hypotensive

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Microdesmis keayana has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Plasmodium falciparum, erectile dysfunction.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations