essia

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• essia
• stinkwoodtree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Petersia viridiflora
• Combretodendron macrocarpum
• Combretum macrocarpum
• Petersianthus minor
• Petersianthus africanus
• Petersia minor
• Petersia klainei
• Petersia africana
• Combretodendron africanum
• Combretodendron africanum var. minus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Petersianthus macrocarpus, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Ericales and the family Lecythidaceae. It is further identified by its specific genus, Petersianthus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily located within the West Tropical Africa region. Its presence is notably documented in the country of Ghana. It also grows naturally throughout the territory of Guinea. Additionally, the species can be found across the landscapes of Ivory Coast and Liberia. Finally, its distribution extends further east into Nigeria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Petersianthus macrocarpus is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the species to establish long-term presence within its ecosystem. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody stems, a life form that supports its structural development and survival through various seasonal shifts. The plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that it retains its foliage throughout the year to maximize photosynthetic activity. This combination of a long-lived perennial nature and a robust phanerophyte growth habit enables it to persist as a stable component of its natural habitat.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Petersianthus macrocarpus is characterized by its substantial stature and robust structural development. It is a large, woody tree that functions as a self-supporting organism, reaching an average height of 35 m, with the potential to attain a maximum height of up to 40 m. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies, nor does it function as an epiphyte or a climber such as a liana or vine; instead, it maintains an independent growth habit without acting as a parasite. Its overall growth form is strictly arborescent, characterized by permanent woodiness throughout its structure.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

40 m

Plant height mean:

35 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Petersianthus macrocarpus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, meaning it utilizes the standard Calvin cycle to fix carbon dioxide through the enzyme RuBisCO, typically favoring environments with moderate temperatures and sufficient moisture. In terms of its nutrient cycling capabilities, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer, lacking the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms. Consequently, its growth and metabolic processes are heavily dependent on the availability of nitrates and ammonium present within the soil substrate.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproductive cycle of Petersianthus macrocarpus is characterized by a flexible phenological pattern that can vary depending on environmental conditions. The flowering period typically begins around April and concludes in May, though the specific timing remains variable throughout the calendar year. Following the flowering stage, the plant enters its fruiting phase, which is also marked by a variable schedule, meaning the onset and conclusion of fruit production do not follow a strictly fixed seasonal window and can occur during any month of the year.

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

May

Fruiting time :

variable

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Petersianthus macrocarpus has 1 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 stem.

Stem

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Planta medica
3. Phytochemistry

Chemicals

Petersianthus macrocarpus has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 3,3'-dimethoxy ellagic acid, D-galactose, D-glucuronic acid, D-xylose, L-rhamnose.

3,3'-dimethoxy ellagic acid

1. Phytochemistry

D-galactose

1. Journal of natural products

D-glucuronic acid

1. Journal of natural products

D-xylose

1. Journal of natural products

L-rhamnose

1. Journal of natural products

Petersaponin I

1. Planta medica

Saponins

1. Planta medica

Activities

Petersianthus macrocarpus has 2 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiestrogenic, Estrogenic.

Antiestrogenic

1. Planta medica

Estrogenic

1. Planta medica

Medicinal Uses

Petersianthus macrocarpus has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Loa loa.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations