Jacket-plum

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Indaba tree
• Judgement Tree
• Judgement-Tree
• Lobengula's Indaba Tree
• Lobengula's Judgement
• Wild Amandel
• judgment tree
• mopenewee

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Sapindus pappea
• Pappea fulva
• Nephelium capense
• Pappea radlkoferi var. ugandensis
• Pappea capensis var. radlkoferi
• Pappea radlkoferi var. angolensis
• Pappea radlkoferi
• Pappea schumanniana
• Pappea ugandensis

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Pappea capensis, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae within the order Sapindales. Finally, it is a member of the family Sapindaceae and falls under the genus Pappea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse range of habitats across several key regions of the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found growing within the territories of Rwanda and the DR Congo. Its distribution also extends significantly into Northeast Tropical Africa. Specifically, the species is documented in the countries of Djibouti and Eritrea. Finally, it is also established within the geographical boundaries of Ethiopia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pappea capensis is characterized by its ability to inhabit diverse topographical gradients, thriving across a broad altitudinal spectrum. This species is found at elevations ranging from a minimum of 30 m AMSL to a maximum of 1740 m AMSL. This significant vertical distribution suggests a high degree of environmental plasticity, allowing the plant to adapt to varying climatic conditions, temperature fluctuations, and moisture availability found between lowland coastal or riverine areas and higher montane regions. Such a wide elevational range indicates that the plant can occupy multiple ecological niches within its native landscape.

Elevational range max:

1740 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

30 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Pappea capensis is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its environment over many growing seasons. Throughout its existence, it maintains an evergreen habit, retaining its foliage year-round rather than shedding it seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pappea capensis is characterized by its woody structure and diverse growth forms, ranging from a shrub to a larger tree. This terrestrial plant exhibits significant variation in stature, with heights typically ranging from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of 13 meters, maintaining a mean height of approximately 8 meters. As an independent organism, it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, remaining strictly terrestrial in its habitat. Furthermore, while it possesses a robust, woody build, it is categorized as self-supporting rather than acting as a liana, vine, or other type of climber.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

13 m

Plant height mean:

8 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pappea capensis is characterized by a standard C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing the Calvin cycle to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide during the light-independent reactions. As a non-nitrogen-fixing species, the plant does not possess a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, meaning it relies entirely on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system to meet its nutritional requirements.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

Reproduction in Pappea capensis is driven by a biotic pollination syndrome, characterized primarily by interactions with various animal vectors. Specifically, the plant relies on insect pollination, with bees playing a significant role in the transfer of pollen. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces seeds that exhibit specific morphological variations in mass. The seed mass typically ranges from a minimum of 0.10047 g to a maximum of 0.1896 g, with an average seed mass of approximately 0.145035 g.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.1896 g

Seed mass mean:

0.145035 g

Seed mass min:

0.10047 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Pappea capensis has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. The Journal of tropical medicine and hygiene

Chemicals

Pappea capensis has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Terpenoids, Tocopherols.

Flavonoids

1. Journal of evidence-based integrative medicine
2. Heliyon

Terpenoids

1. Journal of evidence-based integrative medicine
2. Heliyon

Tocopherols

1. Journal of evidence-based integrative medicine
2. Heliyon

Activities

Pappea capensis has 1 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.

Antioxidant

1. Heliyon

Medicinal Uses

Pappea capensis has 5 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Inflammation, cancer, infertility, oxidative stress, prostate cancer.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations