Climbing Acacia

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Climbing Acacia

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Acacia pennata
• Sericandra pennata
• Senegalia pennata var. heyneana
• Acacia pennata var. canescens
• Inga tenerrima
• Mimosa megalodena
• Acacia pennata var. heyneana
• Acacia prensans
• Acacia pterophylla
• Mimosa pennata
• Acacia grahamii
• Senegalia pennata var. canescens
• Acacia canescens var. albida
• Acacia canescens var. fulva

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. Within the order Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Senegalia and the species pennata.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several nations in West Tropical Africa. Within this region, it can be found growing in the country of Benin. The species is also documented to inhabit various areas throughout Guinea. Furthermore, its presence extends into the territories of both Ivory Coast and Liberia. Finally, the distribution of this medicinal plant includes the nation of Mali.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Senegalia pennata is characterized by a highly specific altitudinal niche, as it is primarily found within a restricted elevational range. This plant thrives in specialized montane or upland environments, occupying a narrow belt that begins at a minimum elevation of 900 m AMSL and extends to a maximum elevation of 1000 m AMSL. This limited vertical distribution suggests that the species is adapted to the particular microclimatic conditions, such as specific temperature gradients, humidity levels, and atmospheric pressures, found only within this 100-meter elevation window.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

900 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Senegalia pennata is characterized by its classification as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated branches, a life form that is further specified by its status as a phanerophyte, indicating a growth habit where the buds are protected above the ground level. The plant exhibits variable deciduousness, meaning its foliage may shed depending on seasonal shifts or environmental stressors, transitioning between deciduous and evergreen states.

Deciduousness :

variable

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Senegalia pennata is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically developing as a shrub. It functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor as an epiphyte, as it maintains a primarily terrestrial existence. Although it can inhabit various moisture gradients, its ecological classification ranges across aquatic, semiaquatic, and terrestrial habitats. Regarding its structural habit, the plant exhibits climbing characteristics, behaving as a liana through obligatory climbing mechanisms to navigate its environment.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Senegalia pennata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common mechanism for carbon fixation in many woody species. Morphologically, its foliage is defined by a linear leaf form with entire margins, lacking both leaf thorns and leaf spines. From a structural efficiency standpoint, the plant exhibits a consistent Specific Leaf Area (SLA) across its measured parameters, with a minimum, mean, and maximum value all recorded at 203.8 cm²/g, indicating a uniform leaf thickness and density relative to its surface area.

Leaf form :

linear

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) min:

203.8 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Senegalia pennata is characterized by the production of fruit that exhibits a dry texture, distinguishing it from fleshy varieties. The seeds produced by this species are highly uniform in their physical dimensions, maintaining a consistent seed volume with both a minimum and maximum value of 81 mm³, resulting in a mean seed volume of 81 mm³. Furthermore, the seed mass is equally standardized, with the minimum, maximum, and mean seed mass all recorded at 0.04167 g, indicating a very low level of variation in the weight of the individual seeds during the reproductive cycle.

Fruit dryness :

dry

Seed mass mean:

0.04167 g

Seed volume max:

81 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Senegalia pennata has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Apigenin-6-C-glucoside, Isovitexin.

Apigenin-6-C-glucoside

1. Future journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Isovitexin

1. Future journal of pharmaceutical sciences