Salacia madagascariensis

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sources: Wikidata

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread presence across several distinct regions of the African continent and surrounding islands. In Northeast Tropical Africa, its range extends into Somalia. It is also commonly found within East Tropical Africa, specifically throughout Kenya and Tanzania. Moving southward, the species can be located in the South Tropical Africa region of Mozambique. Finally, its distribution reaches the Western Indian Ocean, where it is native to Madagascar.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Salacia madagascariensis is defined by its adaptability to diverse forest environments, where it thrives across a spectrum of moisture levels. It is commonly found inhabiting moist or dry forests, as well as well-established woodland ecosystems and dense evergreen bushland. This range of habitats suggests a capacity to persist in both humid, shaded understories and more seasonal, semi-arid woodland settings, provided the structural complexity of the vegetation allows for its growth patterns.

Habitat :

moist or dry forest, woodland, evergreen bushland

Morphology

The morphology of Salacia madagascariensis is characterized by a woody growth form that functions as a shrub. It is a terrestrial plant that exhibits an obligatory climbing habit, specifically categorized as a liana. The plant reaches an average height of approximately 7 m and grows as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

7 m

Woodiness :

woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Salacia madagascariensis is characterized by the production of fleshy fruits that serve as the primary vessel for seed dispersal. Within these fruits, the seeds exhibit highly consistent morphological dimensions, maintaining a uniform seed volume of exactly 66 mm³. This consistency extends to the seed mass, which is measured at a constant 0.30284 g, with no variation observed between the minimum, maximum, and mean values. The combination of a fleshy fruit structure and these precisely measured seeds suggests a specialized reproductive strategy aimed at efficient dispersal and establishment.

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Seed mass mean:

0.30284 g

Seed volume max:

66 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Salacia madagascariensis has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. Journal of natural products

Conditions

Salacia madagascariensis has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Leishmania, malaria.

Leishmania

1. Journal of natural products

Malaria

1. Acta tropica