Rourea coccinea

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Byrsocarpus coccineus

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Further taxonomic placement identifies it under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Oxalidales. Ultimately, Rourea coccinea is a member of the family Connaraceae within the genus Rourea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed throughout the West Tropical Africa region. Specifically, it can be found growing within the borders of Benin. Its presence is also documented across the landscape of Burkina Faso. Furthermore, the species inhabits the territories of both Ghana and Guinea-Bissau. Finally, the geographical range of this medicinal plant extends into Guinea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Rourea coccinea is characterized by its preference for specific transitional zones within woodland ecosystems, where it primarily thrives along the forest fringe. Occupying these edge habitats, the plant benefits from the increased light availability and varied microclimates found at the boundary between dense canopy cover and more open areas. This positioning allows it to exploit the interface of different environmental gradients, utilizing the moderate sunlight and moisture levels typical of these ecotones to support its growth and development.

Habitat :

forest fringe

Life history

The life history of Rourea coccinea is characterized by its classification as a phanerophyte, a growth form where the perennating buds are located well above the ground on woody stems. Within this category, it specifically exhibits traits of a nanophanerophyte, indicating a relatively low-growing woody structure, while also maintaining the broader botanical designation of a phanerophyte. This life strategy allows the plant to survive unfavorable seasonal conditions by protecting its regenerative buds on elevated branches, ensuring its persistence in its natural habitat through multiple growing seasons.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Rourea coccinea is characterized by its woody structure and a growth form that can be described as a shrub. As a terrestrial plant, it functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. It exhibits climbing behavior, specifically functioning as a liana, and is classified as an obligatory climber. In terms of its physical dimensions, the plant reaches a maximum height of approximately 1.83 meters, though its mean height is recorded at approximately 7.12 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.828822238 m

Plant height mean:

7.12161667875 m

Woodiness :

woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Rourea coccinea is characterized by a highly flexible phenological cycle, as its reproductive phases are not strictly confined to a single season. The flowering period is notably variable, with the onset of flowering (flower_start) and its conclusion (flower_end) occurring at inconsistent intervals that can span across any month of the year, including January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, and December. Similarly, the fruiting process displays a broad and variable temporal distribution; the commencement of fruit development (fruit_start) and the eventual end of the fruiting cycle (fruit_end) are also subject to seasonal fluctuations, potentially occurring during any month from January through December. This lack of a fixed seasonal pattern suggests that the plant's reproductive activities are highly adaptable to varying environmental conditions.

Flowering time :

variable

Fruiting time :

variable

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Rourea coccinea 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. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM
2. Journal of toxicology

Chemicals

Rourea coccinea has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Quercetin 3-beta-D-glucoside, quercetin, quercetin-3-O-alpha-arabinoside.

Quercetin 3-beta-D-glucoside

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

quercetin

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

quercetin-3-O-alpha-arabinoside

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

Conditions

Rourea coccinea has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include male infertility.

Male infertility

1. Journal of toxicology
2. Andrologia

Preparations

Rourea coccinea has 3 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extract, hydro-ethanolic extract, hydroethanolic extract.

Extract

1. Andrologia

Hydro-ethanolic extract

1. Andrologia

Hydroethanolic extract

1. Journal of toxicology