Phragmanthera capitata

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cinchona capitata
• Tapinanthus capitatus
• Loranthus celtidifolius
• Phragmanthera lapathifolia
• Loranthus incanus var. gossweileri
• Loranthus incanus var. sessilis
• Loranthus incanus var. albus
• Scurrula thonningii
• Tapinanthus hexasepalus
• Tapinanthus lapathifolius
• Tapinanthus thollonii
• Thelecarpus soyauxii
• Phragmanthera incana
• Loranthus capitatus var. latifolius
• Thelecarpus hexasepalus
• Thelecarpus thollonii
• Loranthus thollonii
• Loranthus leptolobus
• Loranthus lapathifolius
• Loranthus luteoflorus
• Loranthus soyauxii
• Loranthus incanus
• Loranthus gossweileri
• Loranthus angustitepalus
• Loranthus hexasepalus
• Loranthus capitatus
• Loranthus pallidifolius
• Exostema capitatum

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered as Santalales and falls under the family Loranthaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Phragmanthera and the species Phragmanthera capitata.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Phragmanthera capitaata, is distributed across several specific regions within West Tropical Africa. Its presence is documented in the country of Benin, where it plays a role in the local ecosystem. It can also be found throughout the territory of Guinea, contributing to the region's botanical diversity. Furthermore, the species inhabits parts of the Ivory Coast and Liberia. Finally, its geographical range extends into Nigeria, completing its distribution within this tropical belt.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Phragmantea capitata is defined by its specialized adaptation to coastal vegetation, where it thrives within the complex dynamics of maritime ecosystems. It typically occupies sandy or rocky littoral zones, playing a functional role in stabilizing soil and contributing to the structural complexity of coastal plant communities. Within these high-energy environments, the species must contend with significant abiotic stressors, including salt spray, fluctuating salinity levels, and high wind exposure. Its presence is often indicative of specific successional stages within coastal scrub or maritime forest habitats, where it interacts with a unique assemblage of halophytic and wind-tolerant flora. By occupying these niche coastal habitats, Phragmantea capitata contributes to the overall biodiversity and ecological resilience of the shoreline interface.

Habitat :

coastal vegetation

Morphology

The morphology of Phragmantea capitate is characterized by its woody structure and a growth form classified as a shrub. It is a terrestrial plant, lacking aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies, and it functions as a self-supporting organism rather than a climber or an epiphyte. Furthermore, the plant is independent in its nutritional requirements, meaning it does not exhibit obligatory parasitic behavior, and it maintains a stable, woody constitution throughout its development.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

obligatory

Woodiness :

woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Phragmanthera capitata is characterized by a specific flowering cycle that dictates its seasonal reproductive activity. The plant's flowering period is highly variable, as it can occur across a broad spectrum of the year, including January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, and December. According to the observed reproductive data, the flowering process can reach its peak or specific milestones around October, though the onset and conclusion of the blooming stage are subject to significant seasonal fluctuations. This variability in flowering time suggests that the plant's reproductive success is closely tied to changing environmental conditions, allowing for a flexible phenology that spans most of the calendar year.

Flowering time :

Oct

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Phragmanthera capitata 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 leaf.

Leaf

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Frontiers in microbiology
3. Pharmacognosy research

Chemicals

Phragmanthera capitata has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 2-Methoxythiazole, Flavonoids, L-cysteine, Phenols, Proanthocyanidin.

2-Methoxythiazole

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Flavonoids

1. Pharmacognosy research

L-cysteine

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Phenols

1. Pharmacognosy research

Proanthocyanidin

1. Pharmacognosy research

S-Methyl-L-cysteine

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

nicotinic acid

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Activities

Phragmanthera capitata has 5 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Antifungal, Antimicrobial.

Antioxidant

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Pharmacognosy research

Antibacterial

1. TheScientificWorldJournal

Antidiabetic

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antifungal

1. TheScientificWorldJournal

Antimicrobial

1. TheScientificWorldJournal

Preparations

Phragmanthera capitata has 7 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include acetone extract, aqueous extract, ethanol extract, methanol extract, Concentrated hot water-infusion.

Acetone extract

1. TheScientificWorldJournal
2. Pharmacognosy research

Aqueous extract

1. TheScientificWorldJournal
2. Pharmacognosy research

Ethanol extract

1. TheScientificWorldJournal
2. Pharmacognosy research

Methanol extract

1. TheScientificWorldJournal
2. Pharmacognosy research

Concentrated hot water-infusion

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Ethyl acetate extract

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Methanol extracts from leaves

1. Frontiers in microbiology