Millettia barteri

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lonchocarpus barteri
• Lonchocarpus heudelotianus
• Millettia calabarica
• Phaseoloides urophyllum
• Millettia demeusei
• Millettia gentilii
• Millettia urophylla

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Millettia, specifically as the species Millettia barteri.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily located within the West Tropical Africa region. Specifically, its presence is documented across several distinct nations in this part of the continent. It can be found growing in the territories of Benin and Ghana. Additionally, the species is distributed throughout Guinea and Guinea-Bissau. Finally, its geographical range extends into the Ivory Coast.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Millettia barteri is characterized by its classification as a phanerophyte, specifically exhibiting traits consistent with both the nanophanerophyte and phanerophyte life forms. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its perennating buds at a considerable height above the ground, protected by its woody structure, which allows it to endure seasonal environmental fluctuations. Within this category, its growth habit can be described as a nanophanerophyte, indicating a relatively low-growing woody stature compared to larger forest trees, yet it retains the essential reproductive and survival mechanisms of the broader phanerophyte group. This life strategy ensures long-term survival through the establishment of permanent woody tissues that shelter vital buds from external stressors, facilitating a perennial lifecycle.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Millettia barterii is characterized by its woody structure and its growth habit as a liana, functioning as an obligatory climber. As a terrestrial organism, it does not exhibit aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic lifestyles, maintaining an independent existence rather than acting as a parasite. Although it shares certain structural characteristics with a shrub, its primary growth form is defined by its climbing nature, reaching a significant maximum plant height of 25 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

25 m

Woodiness :

woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Millettia barteri is characterized by a highly flexible phenological cycle, as both its flowering and fruiting stages exhibit significant temporal variability. The flowering period is not confined to a specific season but can occur at any point throughout the year, with potential start and end dates spanning from January through December. Similarly, the fruiting process follows this irregular pattern, where the onset and conclusion of fruit development are variable and can be observed across any month of the calendar year. This wide range of reproductive activity suggests that the plant's flowering and fruiting times are highly adaptable to environmental conditions, allowing for potential reproductive cycles to initiate and conclude at various intervals across the entire annual cycle.

Flowering time :

variable

Fruiting time :

variable

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Millettia barteri 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 stem.

Stem

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Chemicals

Millettia barteri has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Afzelin, STIGMASTEROL.

Afzelin

1. Pharmaceutical biology

STIGMASTEROL

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Activities

Millettia barteri has 2 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.

Antimicrobial

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Antioxidant

1. Pharmaceutical biology