Camel’s foot

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Camel’s foot
• Monkey bread
• kao
• Bauhinia
• Camelfoot
• Camels-Foot
• Picture-Frame Tree
• Rhodesian Bauhinia
• camels-foot monkeybread

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Bauhinia tamarindacea
• Piliostigma pyrrhocarpum
• Bauhinia thonningii
• Bauhinia pyrrhocarpa
• Bauhinia abyssinica
• Bauhinia reticulata var. rubiginosa
• Bauhinia articulata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement in the genus Piliostigma.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several countries within the West Tropical Africa region. Its presence is documented in Benin, where it plays a role in the local ecosystem. The species can also be found in the landscapes of Burkina and the Gambia. Furthermore, its geographical reach extends into the nation of Ghana. Finally, the distribution of this medicinal plant includes the coastal area of Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Piliostigma thonningii is characterized by its specific adaptation to semi-arid environments, primarily thriving within the Acacia-Commiphora bushland habitat. This species occupies a distinct altitudinal gradient, establishing itself across a diverse range of elevations that stretch from a minimum of 250 m AMSL to a maximum of 1525 m AMSL. Its presence in these bushland ecosystems suggests a specialized ability to coexist with other drought-tolerant flora typical of these specific topographic and vegetation zones.

Elevational range max:

1525 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

250 m AMSL

Habitat :

Acacia-Commiphora bushland

Life history

The life history of Pilostigma thonningii is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth strategy, the plant is classified as a phanerophyte, specifically exhibiting the traits of a phanerophyte in both its primary and secondary life form classifications. This indicates that its perennating buds are located high above the ground on aerial shoots, a characteristic typical of woody or robustly branched plant forms that maintain their survival through seasonal changes by protecting their regenerative tissues in elevated positions.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pilostigma thonnningii is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree. It functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. The plant exhibits a self-supporting structure, categorized as a self-supporting climber rather than a liana or vine. In terms of stature, the plant displays significant vertical variability, with heights ranging from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of 13 meters, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 7.67 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

13 m

Plant height mean:

7.66666666666667 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pilosigmatia thonnigii is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation process through the direct carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate by the enzyme RuBisCO. This metabolic strategy implies that the plant relies on standard stomatal regulation to manage gas exchange and transpiration, typically performing most efficiently in environments with moderate temperature and moisture levels. Furthermore, the species functions as a nitrogen fixer, possessing the biological capability to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, a process that enhances its nutrient uptake efficiency and allows for survival in nitrogen-limited substrates.

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pilostigma thonnningii is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects such as bees to facilitate the transfer of pollen. The plant exhibits an absence of self-fertilization, suggesting a reliance on cross-pollination to maintain genetic diversity. Upon successful fertilization, the plant produces dry fruits that utilize an autochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning the seeds are dispersed by the plant's own mechanisms. The resulting seeds are relatively small and uniform in volume, with a consistent seed volume of 170 mm³. Regarding seed mass, the plant produces seeds ranging from a minimum of 0.08691 g to a maximum of 0.143 g, with an average seed mass of approximately 0.1281433335 g.

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Fruit dryness :

dry

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.143 g

Seed mass mean:

0.1281433335 g

Seed mass min:

0.08691 g

Seed volume max:

170 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Piliostigma thonningii has 2 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, stem.

Leaf

1. The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology
2. ISRN pharmacology

Stem

1. Fitoterapia

Chemicals

Piliostigma thonningii has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Alepterolic acid, Flavonoids, Proanthocyanidins, polyphenols.

Alepterolic acid

1. Medicinal chemistry research : an international journal for rapid communications on design and mechanisms of action of biologically active agents

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Proanthocyanidins

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

polyphenols

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Piliostigma thonningii has 2 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antioxidant.

Analgesic

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antioxidant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Piliostigma thonningii has 8 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Pneumococcus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, cancer, malaria, pneumococcal infections.

Pneumococcus

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Streptococcus pneumoniae

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Cancer

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Malaria

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Pneumococcal infections

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Respiratory infections

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Sprains

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Wounds

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Preparations

Piliostigma thonningii has 5 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanol extract, Extracts, PT, aqueous leaf extract, ethanolic extract.

Ethanol extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology

Extracts

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Pt

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous leaf extract

1. ISRN pharmacology

Ethanolic extract

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS