African teak

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• African Teak
• Iroko
• African-teak
• counterwood
• mvule
• rock-elm

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Chlorophora alba
• Maclura excelsa
• Chlorophora excelsa
• Chlorophora tenuifolia
• Milicia africana
• Morus excelsa

Regional and Traditional Names

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 Rosales and the family Moraeaee. Finally, it is identified by the genus Milicia, specifically as the species Milicia excelsa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Milicia excelsa, is primarily distributed across the West Tropical Africa region. Specifically, its presence is documented within the borders of Benin. It can also be found growing in the landscapes of Burkina. Furthermore, the species is native to the territories of Gambia and Ghana. Finally, its geographical range extends to include Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Miliicia excelsa is characterized by its preference for specific environmental niches, primarily occurring within moist forest relicts and wooded grassland ecosystems. It thrives in these transitional landscapes where moisture levels are sufficient to support its growth, often occupying areas that serve as biological bridges between dense forest remnants and more open, woody savannahs. The presence of this species is closely tied to these habitats, as it relies on the structural complexity and soil moisture profiles typical of moist forest fragments and the scattered tree cover found in wooded grasslands.

Habitat :

moist forest (relicts) and wooded grassland

Life history

The life history of Miliicia excelsa is characterized by its status as a perennial species, ensuring its presence in the ecosystem over many successive growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its buds well above the ground, typically developing into a large tree structure where the reproductive organs are held high on woody stems. Its seasonal rhythm is defined by its deciduous nature, meaning it undergoes a period of leaf shedding, typically in response to seasonal changes or dry periods, before renewing its foliage. This combination of a long-lived perennial lifecycle, a phanerophyte growth habit, and deciduous foliage governs its physiological adaptations and its role within its natural habitat.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Miliicia excelsa is characterized by its robust growth form as a large, woody tree. It is a terrestrial species that functions as an independent organism, showing no parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. This self-supporting tree reaches significant dimensions in the forest canopy, with an average plant height of approximately 42 m and a maximum recorded height of up to 48.76859303 m. Unlike climbing lianas or vines, its structural development is entirely self-supporting, allowing it to achieve its massive stature within its natural habitat.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

48.76859303 m

Plant height mean:

42 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Miliicia excelsa is characterized by its specific metabolic and nutritional processes, most notably its photosynthetic pathway which follows the C3 mechanism. This C3 pathway involves the direct fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle, a characteristic typical of many tropical forest tree species. In terms of its nutrient acquisition processes, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a bioavailable form, relying instead on the uptake of nitrogenous compounds present in the soil.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Milicia excelsa is characterized by a specific flowering phenology and specialized seed dispersal mechanisms. The flowering period is concentrated around the month of May, marking both the start and end of the seasonal reproductive cycle. During this process, self-fertilization is absent, suggesting a reliance on cross-pollination to ensure genetic diversity. The plant produces fruit classified as a berry, which is characterized by its dry nature and indehiscent properties, meaning the fruit does not naturally split open at maturity to release its contents. The resulting seeds are quite small, with a mean mass of 0.00235 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.0016 g to a maximum of 0.003 g) and a consistent seed volume of 0.014 mm³. These seeds are distributed via a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, indicating that they are spread by animals, which plays a crucial role in the plant's ability to colonize new habitats.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Flowering time :

May

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit type :

berry

Seed mass max:

0.003 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00235 g

Seed mass min:

0.0016 g

Seed volume max:

0.014 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Milicia excelsa 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 root.

Root

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Milicia excelsa has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Chlorophorin.

Chlorophorin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Milicia excelsa has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include amenorrhea.

Amenorrhea

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Milicia excelsa has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include root aqueous extract.

Root aqueous extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology