African plum

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• eben tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Dacryodes edulis
• Canarium saphu
• Pachylobus saphu
• Dacryodes edulis var. parvicarpa
• Pachylobus edulis var. preussii
• Pachylobus edulis var. mubafo
• Pachylobus edulis var. sylvestris
• Canarium edule
• Canarium mansfeldianum
• Canarium mubafo

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Under the subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized within the order Sapindales and the family Burseraceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Pachylobus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution across the tropical regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is documented within the borders of Nigeria. Moving into the West-Central Tropical Africa zone, it can be found in the nation of Cameroon. The species also extends its range into the Central African Republic and the country of Congo. Finally, its geographical footprint includes the specific region of Cabinda.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Pachylobus edulis is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to maintain a long-term presence within its ecological niche. Throughout its extended lifespan, the plant exhibits an evergreen habit, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and present across various seasons rather than undergoing a period of seasonal leaf shedding. This combination of a long-lived perennial lifecycle and permanent green canopy enables the plant to sustain continuous physiological activities and stable growth patterns over many years.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pachylobus edulis is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree. This self-supporting species typically reaches a significant height, with recorded measurements ranging from a minimum of approximately 9.14 m to a maximum of about 18.29 m, maintaining an average height of around 20 m. As a terrestrial organism, it does not exhibit aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies, nor does it function as an epiphyte or a climber, as it is a fully self-supporting structure. Furthermore, the plant is an independent organism, showing no parasitic behavior.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

18.28822238 m

Plant height mean:

20 m

Plant height min:

9.144111192 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pachylobus edulis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation process and metabolic efficiency under typical environmental conditions. As a plant utilizing the C3 pathway, it relies on the enzyme Rubisco to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide directly into three-carbon compounds during the Calvin cycle. Furthermore, this species is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms; instead, it must depend on the uptake of inorganic nitrogen sources, such as nitrates or ammonium, from the soil to support its metabolic and growth requirements.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pachylobus edulis is characterized by a specific phenological cycle and a reliance on biotic agents for successful fertilization. The flowering period is relatively concentrated, beginning in March and concluding within the same month, though the timing can be variable across different environments. Following the flowering stage, the fruiting period commences in June and concludes in June, indicating a distinct seasonal transition from bloom to fruit development. The plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. Within this insect-mediated process, bees play a significant role in the pollination mechanism. Notably, self-fertilization is absent in this species, necessitating cross-pollination through its insect vectors to ensure genetic diversity and successful seed production.

Flowering time :

Mar

Fruiting time :

Jun

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Pachylobus edulis 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 leaf, fruit.

Leaf

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Fruit

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Chemicals

Pachylobus edulis has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Antioxidant, Kaur-15-ene.

Antioxidant

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Kaur-15-ene

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Activities

Pachylobus edulis has 1 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.

Antioxidant

1. Medicines (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Pachylobus edulis has 5 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanol extract, Aqueous Extract of Dacryodes edulis (Burseraceae) Leaves, aqueous extract of Dacryodes edulis (Burseraceae) leaves, extracts of the leaves, n-hexane fruit extract.

Ethanol extract

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous extract of dacryodes edulis (burseraceae) leaves

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Aqueous extract of dacryodes edulis (burseraceae) leaves

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Extracts of the leaves

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

N-hexane fruit extract

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM