Calabar bean

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• calabar-bean
• ordeal-bean
• Calabar bean

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

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. Finally, it is identified by the genus Physostigma.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Physostigma venenosum, is found across several regions of West Tropical Africa. Its distribution specifically includes the nation of Ghana, where it grows in local ecosystems. It is also documented in Guinea, marking its presence in the coastal and inland areas of that country. Furthermore, the species can be located within the borders of the Ivory Coast and Liberia. Finally, the geographical range of this medicinal plant extends into Mali, completing its presence in the West Tropical African zone.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Physostigma venenosum is characterized by its classification as a phanerophyte, specifically manifesting as a nanophanerophyte, where its perennating buds are located well above the soil surface. As a perennial climber, it maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that its foliage remains functional throughout its growth cycles rather than shedding seasonally. This life form strategy, functioning primarily as a phanerophyte, allows the plant to establish a robust presence in its habitat by protecting its vital reproductive and vegetative buds above the ground level.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Physostigma venenosum is characterized by its significant stature, with a mean plant height reaching approximately 10 m. It functions as an obligatory climber, specifically categorized as a liana, which allows it to ascend through surrounding vegetation. While its growth form is described as shrub-like in certain contexts, its structural development is primarily that of a woody liana. This plant is strictly terrestrial in its habit, rather than epiphytic, establishing its root system in the soil to support its climbing progression.

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Plant height mean:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Physostigma venenosum is characterized by its metabolic processes and nutrient acquisition strategies, most notably its reliance on a C3 photosynthetic pathway for carbon fixation. This means the plant utilizes the enzyme RuBisCO to incorporate atmospheric carbon dioxide directly into organic molecules during the Calvin cycle, a process typical of most temperate and tropical woody climbers. In terms of nutrient cycling and soil interaction, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer; it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, instead relying on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Physostigma venenosum has 17 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include physostigmine, (-)-Physovenine, (-)-physostigmine, BETA-SITOSTEROL, Behenic acid.

physostigmine

1. Arquivos brasileiros de oftalmologia
2. Current Alzheimer research

(-)-Physovenine

1. Organic letters

(-)-physostigmine

1. Organic letters

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke

Behenic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Calabarine

1. Dr. Duke

Eseramine

1. Dr. Duke

Eseridine

1. Dr. Duke

Eserine

1. Dr. Duke

Geneserine

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Physostigma venenosum has 99 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, Absorbent, Allergenic, Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, Androgenic.

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Absorbent

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic

1. Dr. Duke

Anemiagenic

1. Dr. Duke

Angiogenic

1. Dr. Duke

Anorexic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiMS

1. Dr. Duke

Antiacne

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Physostigma venenosum has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include glaucoma, Alzheimer's disease.

Glaucoma

1. Arquivos brasileiros de oftalmologia
2. Ciba Foundation symposium

Alzheimer's disease

1. Current Alzheimer research