African-indigo

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• African-indigo
• West African-indigo

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Robinia cyanescens
• Lonchocarpus cyanescens

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Under the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls into the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Philenoptera, which includes the species Philenoptera cyanescens.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is found within the specific ecological zones of West Tropical Africa. Its distribution spans several key countries, including Benin and Burkina Faso. It is also documented to grow within the borders of Ghana. Furthermore, the species is present in Guinea-Bissau. Finally, its geographical range extends into the nation of Guinea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Philenoptera cyanescens is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody stems, a structural adaptation that defines its growth habit. Furthermore, the plant exhibits a deciduous nature, meaning it undergoes a seasonal shedding of its foliage, a process that plays a critical role in its annual developmental cycle and resource management.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Philenoptera cyanescens is characterized by a woody growth form that typically presents as a shrub. It functions as an obligatory climber, specifically taking the form of a liana, and grows in a terrestrial habitat rather than as an aquatic or epiphytic species. The plant is an independent organism, functioning without parasitic dependencies. In terms of vertical dimension, its height varies, with recorded measurements ranging from a minimum of approximately 2.13 m to a maximum of about 2.44 m, with a mean plant height of approximately 3 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2.438429651 m

Plant height mean:

3 m

Plant height min:

2.133625945 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Philenoptera cyanescens is characterized by its specific metabolic and nutritional strategies. The plant utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a mechanism where the first stable product of carbon fixation is a three-carbon compound, typically occurring under standard environmental conditions without the specialized adaptations seen in C4 or CAM plants. Furthermore, regarding its nutrient acquisition processes, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil through its root system rather than forming symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Philenoeptera cyanescens is characterized by the production of seeds that exhibit specific variations in physical mass. The seed mass within this species demonstrates a measurable range, with a recorded minimum value of 0.08697 g and a maximum value reaching 0.14938 g. When analyzing the population, the mean seed mass is calculated to be 0.118175 g, reflecting the central tendency of the reproductive output for this medicinal plant.

Seed mass max:

0.14938 g

Seed mass mean:

0.118175 g

Seed mass min:

0.08697 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Philenoptera cyanescens 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 basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology
2. Journal of natural medicines

Chemicals

Philenoptera cyanescens has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Anthraquinones, Cardiac Glycosides, Saponins, Steroids.

Flavonoids

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)
2. Journal of natural medicines
3. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine

Anthraquinones

1. Journal of natural medicines
2. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine

Cardiac Glycosides

1. Journal of natural medicines
2. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine

Saponins

1. Journal of natural medicines
2. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine

Steroids

1. Journal of natural medicines
2. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine

Tannins

1. Journal of natural medicines
2. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine

RUTIN

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Conditions

Philenoptera cyanescens has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include wound healing.

Wound healing

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Preparations

Philenoptera cyanescens has 6 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Warm and cold water extracts, aqueous ethanol fraction (AEF), ethyl acetate fraction (EAF), n-hexane fraction, solvent-partitioned fractions of the leaf extract.

Warm and cold water extracts

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Aqueous ethanol fraction (aef)

1. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology

Ethyl acetate fraction (eaf)

1. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology

N-hexane fraction

1. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology

Solvent-partitioned fractions of the leaf extract

1. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology

Warm water extract

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM