Weeping wattle

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• African Black Wattle
• African Blackwood
• African Wattle
• Black Wattle
• Natal Wattle
• Rhodesian Black Wattle
• Rhodesian Wattle
• Weeping Wattle
• African-wattle
• African Weeping-Wattle
• African-Blackwattle
• False Black Wattle
• False-Blackwattle
• Rhodesian-Wattle
• The Rhodesian Wattle
• Transvaal Black Wattle
• Weeping-Wattle
• Rhodeian wattle

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Brasilettia africana
• Baryxylum africanum

Regional and Traditional Names

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 Fabales, it is a member of the Fabaceae family. Its taxonomic classification is completed by its placement in the genus Peltophorum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across various tropical regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, it can be found specifically within the borders of Nigeria. Its range extends into West-Central Tropical Africa, where it inhabits the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Moving toward the east, the species is documented in the East Tropical Africa regions of both Kenya and Tanzania. Finally, its distribution reaches into South Tropical Africa, notably within the nation of Angola.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Peltophorum africanum is characterized by its adaptability to diverse topographical settings, spanning a broad altitudinal gradient. It is found across an elevational range that begins as low as 60 m AMSL and extends to a maximum of 1950 m AMSL. This wide vertical distribution allows the species to inhabit various ecological niches, from lowland coastal or riverine areas to more temperate montane environments. Its ability to thrive across these varying heights suggests a robust tolerance for different temperature regimes and atmospheric pressures, enabling it to integrate into multiple forest types and woodland ecosystems within its natural range.

Elevational range max:

1950 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

60 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Peltophorum africanum is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to establish a long-term presence within its ecosystem. As it progresses through its life cycle, the plant transitions from an initial seedling stage through several years of vegetative growth, eventually reaching maturity where it can produce prolific yellow blooms. Unlike annuals or biennials that complete their cycle in a single or double season, this perennial maintains its structural integrity and reproductive capacity over many years, often growing into a large, spreading tree. Its longevity is supported by a robust root system and a continuous cycle of growth and seasonal flowering, which enables it to persist and adapt to its environment across multiple life stages.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Peltophorum africanum is characterized by a woody growth form, functioning as a self-supporting tree rather than a climber or a vine. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic lifestyles, maintaining an independent existence without being a parasite. The plant's stature is highly variable, with heights ranging from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 18 m, though it reaches a mean height of approximately 8 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

18 m

Plant height mean:

8 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Peltophorum africanum is characterized by its specific metabolic and nutrient-acquisition strategies. The plant utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common mechanism in many woody tropical species where carbon fixation occurs primarily through the enzyme RuBisCO during the Calvin cycle. In terms of its relationship with soil nutrients, Peltophorum africanum is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with rhizobia or actinomycetes required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form, and instead relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil through its root system.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Peltophorum africanum is driven by a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on biological agents to facilitate fertilization. Within this system, the plant utilizes insect-mediated pollination, with bees serving as a primary pollinator type. Following successful pollination, the plant produces seeds that exhibit a notable range of variability in size. The individual seed mass ranges from a minimum of 0.06953 g to a maximum of 0.30303 g, with the population maintaining an average seed mass of 0.202775 g.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.30303 g

Seed mass mean:

0.202775 g

Seed mass min:

0.06953 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Peltophorum africanum 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, stem, root.

Leaf

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of evidence-based complementary & alternative medicine

Stem

1. The Tohoku journal of experimental medicine
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Root

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Peltophorum africanum has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include bergenin, (+)-catechin, 6-Hydroxydelphinidin 3-glucoside, CATECHIN, betulinic acid.

bergenin

1. The Tohoku journal of experimental medicine
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

(+)-catechin

1. The Tohoku journal of experimental medicine

6-Hydroxydelphinidin 3-glucoside

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

CATECHIN

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

betulinic acid

1. The Tohoku journal of experimental medicine

flavonols

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Peltophorum africanum has 8 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antidiabetic.

Antimicrobial

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Letters in applied microbiology
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antibacterial

1. Letters in applied microbiology

Anticancer

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antidiabetic

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiproliferative

1. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR

Antiviral

1. Journal of evidence-based complementary & alternative medicine

Repellent

1. PloS one

Medicinal Uses

Peltophorum africanum has 19 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, HIV-1, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Shigella flexneri.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations