Odyendea gabunensis

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Hannoa njariensis
• Simaba gabonensis
• Hannoa kitombetombe
• Hannoa klaineana
• Quassia undulata f. silvestris
• Quassia gabonensis
• Quassia silvestris

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Sapindales, it is classified under the family Simaroubaceae. It is further identified by its specific genus, Odyendea, and its species name, Odyendea gabunensis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Odyendea gabunensis, is primarily distributed throughout the West Tropical Africa region. Its natural range encompasses several distinct nations within this tropical belt. Specifically, the species can be found growing in the territories of Benin and Ghana. Furthermore, its distribution extends into the coastal and inland areas of Guinea and Ivory Coast. Finally, the plant is also documented to occur within the borders of Liberia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Odyendea gabunenis is fundamentally defined by its specialized niche within the primary forest ecosystems. Thriving in these undisturbed, climax vegetation communities, the species relies on the complex, multi-layered structure of the primary forest to provide the specific microclimatic conditions necessary for its survival. This habitat offers a stabilized environment characterized by consistent humidity levels, buffered temperature fluctuations, and a sophisticated soil matrix enriched by centuries of organic decomposition. Within this dense canopy architecture, the plant interacts with a highly specialized community of flora and fauna, occupying a specific stratum that allows it to integrate into the intricate nutrient cycling and light-partitioning processes unique to intact, old-growth tropical forest systems.

Habitat :

primary forest

Life history

The life history of Odyendea gabunenensis is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its ecosystem over multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, specifically categorized under both phanerophyte and nanophanerophyte classifications, its reproductive shoots are elevated well above the ground, a structural adaptation that defines its physical presence in its habitat. Furthermore, the species maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that it retains its foliage throughout the year rather than shedding it seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Odyendea gabunenensis is characterized by a large, woody growth form, primarily functioning as a tree. It exhibits a significant stature with a mean plant height of approximately 32.5 meters. Although it possesses characteristics associated with lianas or vines, its climbing habit is classified as self-supporting rather than obligatory or facultative. As an independent organism, it does not function as a parasite, and its life habit is terrestrial rather than epiphytic.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

32.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Odyendea gabunensis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a metabolic process optimized for environments where carbon dioxide fixation occurs via the Calvin cycle without the specialized adaptations of C4 or CAM pathways. In terms of structural composition, the plant exhibits specific stem density (SSD) metrics that reflect its biomass distribution, with a recorded minimum SSD of 320 mg/cm³ and a maximum SSD of 329.6 mg/cm³, resulting in an overall mean stem specific density of 325.4 mg/cm³. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on external soil nitrogen sources rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria to meet its nutritional requirements.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) max:

329.6 mg/cm³

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

325.4 mg/cm³

Stem specific density (SSD) min:

320 mg/cm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Odyendea gabunensis 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 stem.

Stem

1. International journal for parasitology

Activities

Odyendea gabunensis has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic.

Cytotoxic

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA