Cape beech

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Chrysophyllum melanophoeos
• Rapanea bequaertii
• Rapanea melanophloeos
• Rapanea usambarensis
• Rapanea lamiaensis
• Myrsine pentandra
• Rapanea gracilior
• Rapanea schliebenii
• Rapanea ulugurensis
• Rapanea umbratilis
• Myrsine simensis
• Rapanea thomensis
• Myrsine rhododendroides
• Rapanea simensis
• Myrsine runssorica
• Myrsine neurophylla
• Rapanea pulchra
• Rapanea neurophylla
• Manglilla melanophloeos
• Rapanea runssorica
• Manglilla venulosa
• Myrsine venulosa
• Scleroxylum melanophloeum
• Samara pentandra
• Rapanea rhododendroides
• Roemeria melanophloeos
• Heeria melanophloeos
• Myrsine ulugurensis
• Scleroxylum venulosum
• Sideroxylon melanophloeos
• Chrysophyllum millerianum

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Ericales, it is classified under the family Primulaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Myrsine.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, it can be specifically identified in Nigeria. Its presence extends significantly into West-Central Tropical Africa, where it is found in Burundi, Cameroon, and Congo. Furthermore, the species is documented within the Gulf of Guinea Islands. Collectively, these locations highlight its importance within tropical African ecosystems.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Myrsine melanophloeos is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution, spanning from low-lying areas at 5 m AMSL up to high-altitude environments reaching 2000 m AMSL. It typically inhabits upland forests and occupies the transitional zones at the edges of moorlands. While its primary ecological niche is found within these forested and montane settings, there is evidence of its presence near coastal regions, though this specific occurrence requires further investigation to confirm its typical coastal habitat preferences.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

5 m AMSL

Habitat :

upland forest to edge of moorlands; one collection near coast, but needing further investigation

Life history

The life history of Myrsine melanophloeos is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its environment over many years. As an evergreen species, it maintains its foliage throughout the year, providing continuous photosynthetic activity and structural stability within its ecological niche.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Myrsine melanophloeos is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree. As a terrestrial and independent organism, it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant exhibits a self-supporting structure rather than acting as a climber, liana, or vine. In terms of stature, its height is variable, ranging from a minimum of 1.21 m to a maximum of 20 m, with an average plant height of approximately 7.25 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Plant height mean:

7.25 m

Plant height min:

1.21 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Myrsine melanophloeos is characterized by a standard C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in varying environmental conditions. As a C3 plant, it utilizes the Calvin cycle to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide directly through the enzyme RuBisCO, typically optimizing its energy production in temperate or shaded forest environments. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, and instead relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the surrounding soil to meet its nutritional requirements for growth and development.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Myrsine melanophloeos is characterized by a biotic pollination strategy, primarily facilitated by insects, with bees playing a significant role in the pollination process. The plant produces fleshy, indehiscent fruits classified as drupes, which typically exhibit a mean length of 0.6 cm and a mean width of 0.6 cm. These fruits are designed for zoochorous dispersal, relying on animals to spread the seeds. The seeds contained within the fruit are uniform in size and weight, with a mean seed mass of 0.03996 g (ranging from a minimum to a maximum of 0.03996 g) and a consistent seed volume of 45 mm³.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length mean:

0.6 cm

Fruit type :

drupe

Fruit width mean:

0.6 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass mean:

0.03996 g

Seed volume max:

45 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Myrsine melanophloeos has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include stem, leaf.

Stem

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Leaf

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Chemicals

Myrsine melanophloeos has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include EMBELIN.

EMBELIN

1. Veterinary parasitology

Activities

Myrsine melanophloeos has 1 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial.

Antibacterial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Myrsine melanophloeos has 7 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include DCM extracts, aqueous extract of R. melanophloeos stem bark, chloroformic extract of Rapanea melanophloeos (L.) Mez, chloroformic stem bark extract of Rapanea melanophloeos, medicinal bark.

Dcm extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous extract of r. melanophloeos stem bark

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Chloroformic extract of rapanea melanophloeos (l.) mez

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chloroformic stem bark extract of rapanea melanophloeos

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Medicinal bark

1. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek

Methanol leaf extract

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Methanolic extract

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine