Myrica salicifolia

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across various regions of the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found inhabiting the landscapes of Burundi, Cameroon, and Rwanda. Its presence is also noted within the vast territories of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Moving toward a different climatic zone, the species extends into Northeast Tropical Africa. Specifically, it has been documented growing in the country of Eritrea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Morphology

The morphology of Myrica salicifolia is characterized by its growth form as a tree, exhibiting a robust and woody structure. In terms of its ecological habit, the plant is primarily terrestrial, though it can exist within a spectrum of habitats ranging from semiaquatic to aquatic environments. It is a self-supporting species, functioning neither as an obligatory nor a facultative climber, such as a liana or vine, nor as an epiphyte, maintaining its position as a terrestrial organism.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Woodiness :

woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Myrica salicifolia is characterized by the production of small, specialized fruits and seeds designed for effective propagation. The plant produces fruit classified as a drupe, which is characterized by its indehiscent nature, meaning it does not split open at maturity to release its contents. These fruits are relatively uniform in size, possessing a mean length of 0.5 cm and a mean width of 0.5 cm. Within these fruits, the seeds exhibit a highly consistent mass, with a recorded mean, minimum, and maximum value of 0.0253 g. The dispersal of the species is driven by a zoochorous syndrome, indicating that the plant relies on animals to facilitate the movement and distribution of its seeds across the landscape.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit length mean:

0.5 cm

Fruit type :

drupe

Fruit width mean:

0.5 cm

Seed mass mean:

0.0253 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Myrica salicifolia 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 evidence-based integrative medicine

Conditions

Myrica salicifolia has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include malaria.

Malaria

1. Journal of evidence-based integrative medicine
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Myrica salicifolia has 3 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Methanolic Root Extract, methanol and aqueous extracts, root crude extract.

Methanolic root extract

1. Journal of evidence-based integrative medicine

Methanol and aqueous extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Root crude extract

1. Journal of evidence-based integrative medicine