Common Gemsbokbean

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Common Gemsbokbean

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Neorautanenia brachypus
• Neorautanenia lugardii
• Neorautanenia pseudopachyrrhiza
• Neorautanenia rogersii
• Cacara orbicularis
• Dolichos brachypus
• Dolichos ellenbeckii
• Neorautanenia orbicularis
• Neorautanenia amboensis
• Dolichos mitis
• Neorautanenia pseudopachyrrhiza var. ellenbeckii
• Dolichos pseudopachyrhizus
• Neorautanenia coriacea
• Dolichos pseudopachyrhizus var. kilimandschari
• Dolichos pseudopachyrhizus var. subintegrifolius
• Neorautanenia edulis
• Dolichos orbicularis
• Dolichos seineri
• Neorautanenia seineri
• Pueraria hochstetteri
• Pueraria rogersii
• Pachyrhizus orbicularis
• Galactia lugardii

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 Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae. Specifically, it is identified by the genus Neorautanenia, with the species name being mitis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across the diverse landscapes of West Tropical Africa. Within this region, its presence is officially documented in the country of Benin. It can also be found growing within the borders of Burkina Faso. Furthermore, the species is known to inhabit parts of Ghana and the Ivory Coast. Finally, its geographical range extends into the territory of Nigeria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Neorautanenia mitis is characterized by its specific vertical distribution within montane and sub-montane ecosystems, where it occupies a diverse altitudinal niche. This species thrives across a significant gradient of varying environmental conditions, ranging from lower elevations starting at 305 m AMSL to higher reaches peaking at 1525 m AMSL. This elevational range suggests that the plant is capable of adapting to a variety of microclimates, including changes in temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure found between its minimum and maximum altitudinal limits. Its presence across these elevations indicates a versatile ecological strategy that allows it to persist in different forest strata or topographical positions within its native habitat.

Elevational range max:

1525 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

305 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Neorautanenia mitis is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth strategy and ecological positioning, the plant is classified as a chamaephyte, a life form where the permanent shoots are located close to the soil surface, often protected by leaf litter or organic debris. This chamaephyte habit facilitates its survival and adaptation within its specific environmental niche throughout its extended lifespan.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Neorautanenia mitis is characterized by a diverse growth form that can manifest as either a herb or a shrub. This plant exhibits a non-woody structure and functions as an independent organism, rather than a parasite, maintaining a terrestrial existence. In terms of its physical stature, it varies in height, ranging from a minimum of 0.89 m to a maximum of 3 m, with an average height of approximately 2 m. Its climbing habit is versatile, capable of acting as a self-supporting plant or functioning as a vine.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

2 m

Plant height min:

0.89 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Neoauchenia mitis is characterized by a standard C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic approach to carbon fixation through the direct carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate by the enzyme RuBisCO. This metabolic strategy implies that the plant relies on the standard Calvin cycle for energy production, typically favoring environments where water availability and temperature are conducive to minimizing photorespiration. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, and thus must depend on the uptake of nitrates or ammonium from the surrounding soil to meet its nutritional requirements for protein and enzyme synthesis.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Neorautanenia mitis is characterized by specific seed morphological traits and a particular dispersal mechanism. The seeds produced by this species exhibit a highly uniform mass, with a recorded mean, minimum, and maximum seed mass all measuring exactly 0.27578 g. Regarding its reproductive strategy, the plant utilizes an autochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning the seeds are dispersed by mechanisms inherent to the plant itself. While its dispersal profile shows potential for various ecological interactions, the primary documented syndrome is specifically identified as autochorous.

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Seed mass mean:

0.27578 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Neorautanenia mitis has 1 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 root.

Root

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Phytochemistry
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Neorautanenia mitis has 11 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Neodulin, Neotenone, pachyrrhizine, rautandiol A, 12-Hydroxyrotenone.

Neodulin

1. Phytochemistry
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Neotenone

1. Phytochemistry
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

pachyrrhizine

1. Phytochemistry
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

rautandiol A

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
2. Journal of natural products

12-Hydroxyrotenone

1. Journal of natural products

CATECHIN

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Dolineone

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Tannins

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

rautandiol B

1. Journal of natural products

Medicinal Uses

Neorautanenia mitis has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include dysmenorrhea.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations