Hissing Tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Hissing Tree
• Muhacha
• Sand-Apple

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ferolia curatellifolia
• Ferolia mobola
• Parinari chapelieri
• Parinari curatellifolia subsp. mobola
• Parinari mobola
• Parinari gardineri
• Irvingia mossambicensis

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Parinaricurateilliifolia, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered under Malpighiales and falls into the family Chrysobalanaceae. Finally, its taxonomic placement is completed within the genus Parinaricurateilliifolia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated within the West Tropical Africa region. Its presence has been documented across several diverse nations, including Benin and Burkina. Furthermore, it can be found inhabiting the landscapes of Gambia and Ghana. The species also extends its reach into the territory of Guinea-Bissau. Collectively, these locations define the primary environmental range for Parinarum curatellifolia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Parinarvaria curatellifolia is characterized by its preference for forest habitats, where it plays a role in the structural composition of the ecosystem. This species thrives within specific altitudinal gradients, occupying an elevational range that begins at 500 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 1500 m AMSL. This distribution suggests an adaptation to the diverse microclimates and soil conditions found within these forested mid-to-high altitude zones.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

500 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest

Life history

The life history of Pariar Naricuriifolia is characterized by its nature as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody stems, a trait further specified by its classification as both a phanerophyte and a nanophanerophyte depending on its developmental scale. Throughout its existence, the plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that it retains its foliage year-round rather than shedding leaves seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pariar Curatellifolia is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree. This terrestrial species functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor as an epiphyte. In terms of stature, it is a substantial plant with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 3 meters to a maximum of 20 meters, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 15 meters. Although it possesses a self-supporting structure rather than being a climbing vine or liana, its robust, woody constitution allows it to reach significant dimensions within its habitat.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Plant height mean:

15 m

Plant height min:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pariar nulli-curatellifolia is characterized by a metabolic framework utilizing a C3 photosynthetic pathway, meaning carbon fixation occurs primarily through the Calvin cycle within the mesophyll cells without the specialized spatial separation seen in C4 plants. In terms of nutrient cycling and symbiotic relationships, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, lacking the specialized root nodules or symbiotic associations with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pariari curatellifolia is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily facilitated by insects, with bees playing a significant role in the process. The plant produces fleshy, indehiscent fruits classified as drupes. These fruits exhibit specific morphological dimensions, with a mean length of 3.225 cm (ranging from 2.59 cm to 3.31 cm), a mean width of 2.6725 cm (ranging from 1.69 cm to 2 cm), and a mean height of 1.845 cm (ranging from 2 cm to 2 cm). The seeds contained within the fruit are substantial, possessing a mean mass of 3.31518 g (ranging from 2.857 g to 3.77336 g) and a consistent seed volume of 4000 mm³. Dispersal is achieved through a zoochorous syndrome, specifically via endozoochory, where animals consume the fleshy fruit and disperse the seeds.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit height max:

2 cm

Fruit height mean:

1.845 cm

Fruit length max:

3.31 cm

Fruit length mean:

3.225 cm

Fruit length min:

2.59 cm

Fruit type :

drupe

Fruit width max:

2 cm

Fruit width mean:

2.6725 cm

Fruit width min:

1.69 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

3.77336 g

Seed mass mean:

3.31518 g

Seed mass min:

2.857 g

Seed volume max:

4000 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Parinari curatellifolia has 3 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root, fruit.

Leaf

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Advances in pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences

Root

1. Chemico-biological interactions
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fruit

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Parinari curatellifolia has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 13-Hydroxy-15-oxozoapatlin, 13-methoxy-15-oxozoapatlin, 15-oxozoapatlin.

13-Hydroxy-15-oxozoapatlin

1. Chemico-biological interactions

13-methoxy-15-oxozoapatlin

1. Chemico-biological interactions

15-oxozoapatlin

1. Chemico-biological interactions

Activities

Parinari curatellifolia has 1 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial.

Antimicrobial

1. Advances in pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences

Conditions

Parinari curatellifolia has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include female infertility, infectious diseases, oxidative stress, polycystic ovary syndrome.

Female infertility

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Infectious diseases

1. Advances in pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences

Oxidative stress

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine

Polycystic ovary syndrome

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Parinari curatellifolia has 11 reported preparations identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Ethanol extracts, Methanolic extracts, aqueous extract, decoction, ethanol extract.

Ethanol extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Methanolic extracts

1. Tropical medicine and health

Aqueous extract

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Decoction

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ethanol extract

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Extract

1. Tropical biomedicine

Infusion

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Leaf ethanol or water extracts

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Leaf extracts

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Maceration

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology