Cape silver willow

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• African Willow
• Cape Willow

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pleiarina hirsuta
• Salix capensis var. mucronata
• Salix capensis
• Salix ramiflora
• Pleiarina nigritina
• Salix wilmsii
• Pleiarina nilicola
• Pleiarina woodii var. wilmsii
• Salix zeyheri
• Salix indigena
• Pleiarina schweinfurthii
• Salix crateradenia
• Salix schweinfurthii
• Salix cyathipoda
• Salix mucronata subsp. subserrata
• Salix axillaris
• Salix mucronata var. afra
• Salix huillensis
• Pleiarina ramiflora
• Salix hutchinsii
• Salix subserrata var. cyathipoda
• Salix hirsuta
• Pleiarina mucronata
• Pleiarina woodii
• Pleiarina madagascariensis
• Pleiarina crateradenia
• Pleiarina hutchinsii
• Pleiarina huillensis
• Pleiarina capensis
• Pleiarina subserrata
• Pleiarina murielii
• Salix murielii
• Salix nigerica
• Salix nilicola
• Salix natalensis
• Salix mucronata subsp. wilmsii
• Salix mucronata subsp. capensis
• Salix mucronata subsp. hirsuta
• Salix subserrata
• Salix blumhardtiana
• Salix woodii
• Salix madagascariensis
• Salix woodii var. wilmsii
• Salix nigritina
• Salix gariepina

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified within the order Malpighiales and the family Salicaceae. Finally, its taxonomic designation concludes with the genus Salix.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range spanning across multiple regions of the African continent. In Northern Africa, its presence is documented in Algeria, Egypt, and Libya. Moving toward the West Tropical Africa region, it can be found in Guinea. Additionally, the species extends into West-Central Tropical Africa, specifically within Cameroon. This distribution highlights the plant's ability to inhabit both northern arid zones and tropical environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Salix mucronata is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution, allowing it to inhabit diverse montane and sub-montane environments. This species demonstrates significant ecological plasticity, occupying a wide elevational range that extends from as low as 30 m AMSL to a maximum altitude of 2134 m AMSL. This vast vertical span suggests an ability to adapt to varying temperature gradients, atmospheric pressures, and moisture regimes found across different topographical layers. By spanning such a wide range of elevations, the plant can persist in a variety of microclimates, ranging from lower-altitude riparian or valley zones to higher-elevation montane habitats.

Elevational range max:

2134 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

30 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Salix mucronata is characterized by its nature as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish long-term presence within its ecosystem. As a deciduous plant, it undergoes a seasonal cycle of foliage loss, shedding its leaves annually in response to environmental cues or temperature changes, which aids in moisture conservation and dormancy during unfavorable periods. This combination of a multi-year lifespan and a deciduous growth pattern enables the plant to undergo regular cycles of regeneration and structural development over time.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Salix mucronata is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, functioning as a self-supporting organism rather than a climber. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit epiphytic or aquatic tendencies, nor does it act as a parasite, maintaining an independent life cycle. The plant's physical stature varies significantly, with a minimum height of 1 m, an average height of 10 m, and a maximum height reaching up to 12 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

12 m

Plant height mean:

10 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Salix mucronata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing the Calvin cycle to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide through the enzyme RuBisCO. This metabolic process is typical of woody dicotyledonous shrubs within the Salicaceae family, relying on the stomatal uptake of CO2 for biomass production. In terms of nutrient cycling and symbiotic associations, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized root nodules or symbiotic relationships with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms. Consequently, its nutritional requirements and growth patterns are heavily dependent on the availability of nitrogenous compounds, such as nitrates and ammonium, directly present within the soil matrix.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

Reproduction in Salix mucronata involves the production of minute seeds that play a critical role in its dispersal and colonization strategies. The reproductive output is characterized by extremely lightweight seeds, with a recorded mean seed mass of 0.000155 g. These seeds exhibit subtle variations in weight, ranging from a minimum mass of 0.00014 g to a maximum mass of 0.00017 g. Such minimal mass is indicative of a wind-dispersal mechanism, allowing the offspring to travel significant distances from the parent plant to establish new populations.

Seed mass max:

0.00017 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000155 g

Seed mass min:

0.00014 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Salix mucronata 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 leaf.

Leaf

1. Journal of experimental pharmacology

Chemicals

Salix mucronata has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Phytosterol, Saponins.

Phytosterol

1. Journal of experimental pharmacology

Saponins

1. Journal of experimental pharmacology

Activities

Salix mucronata has 2 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Neuroprotective.

Antioxidant

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Neuroprotective

1. AAPS PharmSciTech

Preparations