Marula

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Marula
• Morula

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Poupartia birrea
• Spondias birrea

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 Sapindales and the family Anacardiaceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Sclerocarya, with the species name being birrea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily found throughout the region of West Tropical Africa. Its presence is documented in the nation of Benin, where it grows in specific local habitats. It also inhabits the landscapes of Burkina and the Gambia. Furthermore, the species can be located within the borders of Ghana. Finally, its geographical range extends to the coastal areas of Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Sclerocarya birrea is characterized by its adaptability to diverse landscapes, spanning a significant altitudinal gradient from as low as 5 m to a maximum of 1700 m AMSL. It thrives within a variety of specialized environments, commonly inhabiting wooded grasslands, riverine woodlands, and dense bushland situated on rocky hills. This broad distribution across varying elevations and distinct vegetation types allows the species to occupy multiple ecological niches within its range.

Elevational range max:

1700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

5 m AMSL

Habitat :

wooded grassland, riverine woodland, bushland on rocky hills

Life history

The life history of Sclerocarya birrea is characterized by its existence as a perennial species, ensuring its long-term presence within its ecosystem. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive buds are elevated well above the ground, typically supported by a robust woody structure. The plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage periodically as part of its seasonal survival strategy.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Sclerocarya birrea is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree. It is a terrestrial, self-supporting species that functions as an independent organism, rather than acting as a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant exhibits significant vertical development, with a height that ranges from a minimum of 3 m to a maximum of 18 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 12.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

18 m

Plant height mean:

12.5 m

Plant height min:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Sclerocarya birrea is characterized by a standard C3 photosynthetic pathway, which facilitates carbon fixation through the direct carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate by the enzyme RuBisCO. This metabolic process is typical for many woody subtropical species, allowing the plant to optimize gas exchange and energy production under its native environmental conditions. Furthermore, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, instead relying on the uptake of nitrogenous compounds directly from the soil through its root system.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Sclerocarya birrea is characterized by the production of drupe-type fruits that are indehiscent, meaning they do not split open at maturity to release their contents. The plant exhibits a reproductive strategy where self-fertilization is absent, suggesting a reliance on cross-pollination to ensure genetic diversity. The seeds produced vary significantly in size, with a recorded minimum mass of 0.43155 g and a maximum mass of 5.7 g, resulting in a mean seed mass of approximately 2.609025 g. Furthermore, the dispersal of these seeds follows a zoochorous syndrome, indicating that the plant relies on animals to aid in the movement and distribution of its seeds within its environment.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit type :

drupe

Seed mass max:

5.7 g

Seed mass mean:

2.609025 g

Seed mass min:

0.43155 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Sclerocarya birrea has 2 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include stem, leaf.

Stem

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of experimental pharmacology
3. International journal of immunopathology and pharmacology

Leaf

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of experimental pharmacology

Chemicals

Sclerocarya birrea has 13 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Tannins, Flavonoids, polyphenols, Anthraquinones, CATECHIN.

Tannins

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. International journal of molecular sciences
4. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Flavonoids

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. International journal of molecular sciences

polyphenols

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. International journal of molecular sciences

Anthraquinones

1. Pharmaceutical biology

CATECHIN

1. Frontiers in chemistry

Coumarins

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

GST

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Gallic acid

1. Frontiers in chemistry

Phytosterols

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Saponins

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Activities

Sclerocarya birrea has 8 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antioxidant, Anticonvulsant, Antihyperglycemic, Antihypertensive.

Antidiabetic

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of experimental pharmacology
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antioxidant

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Anticonvulsant

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antihyperglycemic

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antihypertensive

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antimicrobial

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antinociceptive

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antiplasmodial

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Medicinal Uses

Sclerocarya birrea has 15 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Diabetes mellitus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Salmonella typhi, asthma, cardiovascular diseases.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations