Opilia amentacea

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Opilia celtidifolia var. tomentella
• Tetanosia olacioides
• Opilia javanica
• Ximenia olacoides
• Groutia celtidifolia
• Opilia amentacea var. tomentella
• Opilia tomentella
• Opilia celtidifolia var. sphaerocarpa
• Opilia thorelii
• Opilia angiensis
• Opilia fragrans
• Opilia ruwenzoriensis
• Opilia pentitdis
• Opilia celtidifolia

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 Santalales, it is classified under the family Opiliaecae. It is specifically identified by its genus, Opilia, with the species name Opilia amantacea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is native to specific regions within the West Tropical Africa zone. Its presence is documented across several different countries in this part of the continent. Specifically, it can be found growing in the territories of Benin and Burkina. The species also extends its range to include Gambia and Ghana. Finally, its geographical distribution reaches as far as Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Opilia amantacea is characterized by its specific preference for coastal environments, where it thrives within the complex structural layers of coastal bushland. It is frequently found transitioning through dense Acacia bushland, where it integrates into the diverse shrub layers of these ecosystems. This habitat provides the necessary environmental conditions, including specific soil compositions and light availability found in maritime-influenced vegetation zones, allowing the species to establish itself within the competitive framework of coastal scrubland and Acacia-dominated communities.

Habitat :

coastal bush through Acacia bushland

Life history

The life history of Opilia amantacea is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on aerial stems, a structural trait that defines its growth habit and survival strategy. Furthermore, the species exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, maintaining its foliage throughout the year rather than shedding it seasonally, which supports continuous metabolic activity.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Opilia amantacea is characterized by its woody structure and growth habit as a shrub and a liana. As an obligatory climber, this plant functions as a liana that requires external support to ascend, though its growth form can be categorized within the shrubby spectrum. It is a terrestrial species, functioning independently rather than as a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of dimensions, the plant exhibits significant variability in height, ranging from a minimum of 0.5 meters to a maximum of 7 meters, with a mean height typically reaching approximately 9 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

7 m

Plant height mean:

9 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Opilia amantacea is characterized by specific morphological dimensions of its foliage and a distinct metabolic profile regarding nutrient acquisition. The leaf structure exhibits significant variability in size, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 14 cm, maintaining a mean leaf length of 8.5 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 1 cm and a maximum of 5.5 cm. Furthermore, the plant does not possess the physiological capability for biological nitrogen fixation, meaning it relies on external nitrogen sources within its environment rather than utilizing symbiotic nitrogen-fixing mechanisms.

Leaf length max:

14 cm

Leaf length mean:

8.5 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf width max:

5.5 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Opilia amantacea is characterized by a specific developmental sequence involving small inflorescences and fleshy fruit production. The inflorescence length is relatively compact, ranging from a minimum of 0.02 m to a maximum of 0.04 m. Following flowering, the plant produces fleshy fruits that vary in size, with a minimum length of 1 cm, a mean length of 1.75 cm, and a maximum length reaching up to 2.5 cm. The seeds contained within these fruits exhibit consistent volumetric properties, maintaining a steady seed volume of 500 mm³. In terms of mass, the seeds are relatively lightweight, with a minimum mass of 0.34324 g, a mean mass of 0.44366 g, and a maximum mass of 0.54408 g. Dispersal is facilitated through an autochorous syndrome, indicating a mechanism of self-dispersal to propagate the species.

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

2.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.75 cm

Fruit length min:

1 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.04 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.02 m

Seed mass max:

0.54408 g

Seed mass mean:

0.44366 g

Seed mass min:

0.34324 g

Seed volume max:

500 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Opilia amentacea has 2 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem.

Leaf

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

Stem

1. Phytochemistry

Chemicals

Opilia amentacea has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ARABINOGALACTAN, Flavonoids, Galacturonic acid, Saponins, Tannins.

ARABINOGALACTAN

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Flavonoids

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Galacturonic acid

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Saponins

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Tannins

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

arabinose

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

galactose

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

rhamnose

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Opilia amentacea has 5 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antihypertensive, Antimalarial, Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective.

Antidiabetic

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antihypertensive

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antimalarial

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine

Antioxidant

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Hepatoprotective

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Medicinal Uses

Opilia amentacea has 5 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antihypertensive, dermatitis, nausea, type 2 diabetes, type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations