Nauclea diderrichii

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Sarcocephalus diderrichii

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Gentianales, it is classified under the family Rubiaceae. Specifically, it is identified by the genus Nauclea and the species name Nauclea diderrichii.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Nauclea diderrichii, is found across several regions within West Tropical Africa. Its distribution specifically includes the country of Benin. Additionally, the species can be located within the borders of Ghana. It also grows naturally throughout Guinea and Ivory Coast. Finally, its range extends into the territory of Liberia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Nauclea diderrichii is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its long-term presence within its ecological niche through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody stems, a structural adaptation that allows it to maintain its stature and survive various environmental pressures. This phanerophyte growth habit is complemented by its evergreen nature, meaning it retains its foliage throughout the year rather than undergoing seasonal shedding. This combination of a perennial lifecycle, a phanerophyte life form, and evergreen deciduousness enables the species to maintain continuous physiological activity and structural stability over its lifespan.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Nauclea diderrichii is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody, self-supporting tree. This species exhibits significant variation in stature, with plant heights ranging from a minimum of approximately 9.14 m to a maximum of 40 m, maintaining an average height of 32.5 m. As an independent organism, it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence rather than an aquatic or semiaquatic habit. Its structure is entirely self-supporting, lacking the characteristics of a liana or vine.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

40 m

Plant height mean:

32.5 m

Plant height min:

9.144111192 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Nauclea diderrichii is characterized by its metabolic and nutritional processes, specifically regarding carbon assimilation and nutrient acquisition. This species utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway, meaning it fixes carbon dioxide directly through the Calvin cycle without the specialized anatomical adaptations found in C4 or CAM plants. Furthermore, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer; it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, relying instead on the uptake of nitrogenous compounds present in the soil.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproductive cycle of Nauclea diderrichii is characterized by a highly flexible flowering period, with flowering starts and ends occurring at variable times throughout the year, spanning from January through December. The fruiting process is more specific, with the fruiting period typically concentrated in November. The plant produces fleshy fruits classified as berries, which are indehiscent in nature. Dispersal is achieved through a zoochorous syndrome, meaning the seeds are spread by animals. Regarding the seeds, they exhibit a consistent volume of 85 mm³, with no variation recorded between the minimum and maximum values. The seed mass varies significantly, ranging from a minimum of 0.0003 g to a maximum of 0.31746 g, with an average seed mass of approximately 0.0806475 g.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Flowering time :

variable

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit type :

berry

Fruiting time :

Nov

Seed mass max:

0.31746 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0806475 g

Seed mass min:

3e-04 g

Seed volume max:

85 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Nauclea diderrichii has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Marounoside, Saponins.

Marounoside

1. Journal of natural products

Saponins

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Nauclea diderrichii has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include diarrhea, fevers, malaria, metabolic diseases, pain.

Diarrhea

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fevers

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Malaria

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Metabolic diseases

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Pain

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Nauclea diderrichii has 3 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include bark, Bark extracts, Hydromethanolic extracts.

Bark

1. Magnetic resonance in chemistry : MRC
2. Journal of natural products

Bark extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hydromethanolic extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology