Rinorea ilicifolia

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Alsodeia ilicifolia

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Malpighiales. Finally, it is a member of the family Violaceae and falls under the genus Rinorea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known scientifically as Rinorea ilicifolia, exhibits a specific geographical distribution across the West Tropical Africa region. Its presence is documented in several coastal and inland nations, beginning with Guinea-Bissau. The species is also widely found throughout the forested areas of Guinea and the Ivory Coast. Furthermore, its natural range extends eastward to include the country of Ghana. Finally, the plant can be located within the borders of Benin, completing its regional distribution pattern.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Rinorea ilicifolia is characterized by its preference for stable, moist environments, primarily thriving within evergreen forests or riverine habitats. These ecosystems provide the shaded, humid conditions necessary for its growth, often situated in proximity to water sources that maintain consistent soil moisture. In terms of altitudinal distribution, the species is typically found in lowland regions, with its presence extending up to a maximum elevation of 400 m AMSL (meters above sea level).

Elevational range max:

400 m AMSL

Habitat :

evergreen forest or riverine

Life history

The life history of Rinorea iliciifolia is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist in its ecosystem over many successive growing seasons. In terms of its structural classification and growth habit, it exhibits a dual life form profile; it is primarily categorized as a phanerophyte, indicating that its perennable buds are elevated on woody stems well above the ground level, while it also displays characteristics of a nanophanerophyte, reflecting its specific stature and growth architecture within its tropical habitat.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Rinorea ilicifolia is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub, which typically reaches an average height of 1.75 m, though it can attain a maximum height of up to 5 m. As a self-supporting plant, it does not exhibit climbing behavior such as a liana or vine, nor does it function as an epiphyte or a parasite, maintaining an independent lifestyle. It is strictly a terrestrial species, lacking any aquatic or semiaquatic adaptations.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

5 m

Plant height mean:

1.75 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Rinorea ilicifolia is characterized by its utilization of the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic strategy among many tropical woody species where carbon fixation occurs primarily through the Calvin cycle within the mesophyll cells. This C3 pathway involves the initial fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide by the enzyme Rubisco to form a three-carbon compound, which dictates the plant's water-use efficiency and gas exchange dynamics. Given its reliance on this specific pathway, the plant's physiological performance, including its rate of biomass accumulation and transpiration, is closely linked to environmental factors such as light intensity, humidity, and temperature, which influence the efficiency of carboxylation versus photorespiration.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Rinorea iliciifolia is characterized by a highly flexible phenological cycle, with flowering and fruiting patterns that exhibit significant variability. The flowering period is notably unpredictable, as the onset and conclusion of blooming can occur at any time throughout the year, spanning from January through December. This variable flowering window suggests that the plant may respond to localized environmental cues or seasonal shifts. Regarding its reproductive output, the fruiting stage also demonstrates a broad potential range; however, specific observations indicate that the fruiting process can initiate and conclude within the month of February, though it remains subject to variable seasonal fluctuations across the calendar year.

Flowering time :

variable

Fruiting time :

Feb

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Rinorea ilicifolia has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (S)-2-(3'-cyclopentenyl)glycine.

(S)-2-(3'-cyclopentenyl)glycine

1. Journal of natural products