African Corkwood

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• African Corkwood
• Umbrella Tree
• African corkwood tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Musanga smithii

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Musanga cecropioides, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified within the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae, falling under the order Rosales. Furthermore, it is a member of the family Urticaceae and is specifically categorized under the genus Musanga.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily found throughout the region of West Tropical Africa. Its documented range includes the country of Benin, where it grows in specific ecological zones. It is also widely distributed across Ghana, spanning various local habitats. Furthermore, the species can be located within the borders of Guinea and the Ivory Coast. Finally, its geographical presence extends into the nation of Liberia, completing its regional distribution.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Musanga cecropioides is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist in its environment over many years. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs at a significant height above the ground, typically supported by a robust structural framework. This life form is consistent across its developmental stages, functioning as a phanerophyte to ensure survival within its ecological niche. Furthermore, the species maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that it retains its foliage throughout the year without the seasonal loss of leaves typical of deciduous species.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Musaanga cecropioides is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree, reaching a mean height of approximately 20 m, with recorded maximum heights of about 18.288 m. As a terrestrial species, it grows independently without the need for a parasitic relationship or epiphytic lifestyle. Unlike climbing vines or lianas, this plant is self-supporting, maintaining a stable vertical structure through its woody composition.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

18.28822238 m

Plant height mean:

20 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Musaenga cecropioides is characterized by a standard C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing the Calvin cycle to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide during the light-independent reactions. In terms of nutrient cycling and symbiotic relationships, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized root nodules or symbiotic associations with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Musanga cecropioides is characterized by a specific phenological and biological pattern, with the flowering period typically peaking in October, though the timing can be variable across the months. The plant exhibits a reproductive strategy that relies on cross-pollination, as self-fertilization is noted to be absent. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces a fruit categorized under the "other" type. The resulting seeds are quite small, featuring a mean mass of 0.00145 g, with individual seed weights ranging from a minimum of 0.0008 g to a maximum of 0.0021 g. These seeds maintain a highly consistent volume, with both the minimum, maximum, and mean values recorded at 1.4 mm³. To ensure the spread of its offspring, the species utilizes a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on animals to facilitate the movement of its seeds within its ecosystem.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Flowering time :

Oct

Fruit type :

other

Seed mass max:

0.0021 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00145 g

Seed mass min:

8e-04 g

Seed volume max:

1.4 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Musanga cecropioides has 2 reported plant parts identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Fitoterapia
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR
4. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Stem

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Chemicals

Musanga cecropioides has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Proanthocyanidins, Procyanidins, Saponins.

Flavonoids

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Proanthocyanidins

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Procyanidins

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Saponins

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Activities

Musanga cecropioides has 1 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic.

Antidiabetic

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Medicinal Uses

Musanga cecropioides has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include type 2 diabetes.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations