Jumping-seed Tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Jumpingbean-Tree
• Jumpingseed-Tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Stillingia elliptica
• Shirakia elliptica
• Excoecaria manniana
• Excoecaria abyssinica
• Aporosa somalensis
• Sapium abyssinicum
• Sapium ellipticum
• Sapium kerstingii
• Sapium mannianum
• Sapium mannianum
• Sclerocroton ellipticus

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Malpighiales and the family Euphorbiaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus name Shirakiopsis, specifically as the species Shirakiopsis elliptica.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Schizolobium ellipticum, exhibits a specific distribution pattern within the West Tropical Africa region. Its presence is documented across several key nations, including Benin and Burkina. Furthermore, the species can be found growing in the natural landscapes of Ghana. The geographical range also extends into the territories of Guinea. Finally, its distribution is confirmed within the borders of Ivory Coast.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Shirakiopsis elliptica is characterized by its ability to thrive across a diverse vertical gradient within its natural habitats. This species is distributed across a broad elevational range, typically found at altitudes starting from as low as 30 m AMSL and extending up to a maximum of 1200 m AMSL. This wide altitudinal span suggests a high degree of ecological plasticity, allowing the plant to inhabit various environmental conditions ranging from lowland tropical settings to mid-elevation montane zones. Such a distribution indicates that the species can tolerate a variety of temperature regimes and precipitation patterns found throughout these varying elevations.

Elevational range max:

1200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

30 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Shirakiopsis elliptica is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth strategy, the species is classified as a phanerophyte, meaning its perennial buds are elevated well above the ground surface, typically on woody stems or branches. This phanerophytic life form, specifically identified under both the general phanerophyte and more specialized phanerophyte categories, enables the plant to maintain a robust, long-lived presence within its ecological niche.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Shiraきopsis elliptica is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that functions as a self-supporting structure. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic tendencies, growing independently rather than as a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant displays significant variation in its stature, with a minimum height of 3 m, a mean height of approximately 19 m, and the potential to reach a maximum height of up to 40 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

40 m

Plant height mean:

19 m

Plant height min:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Shiraikiaopsis elliptica is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant's structural development is reflected in its stem specific density (SSD), which exhibits a mean value of 511.55 mg/cm³, ranging from a minimum of 500 mg/cm³ to a maximum of 523.1 mg/cm³. Morphological physiological data regarding its foliage shows that the leaves possess a mean length of 10.5 cm and a mean width of 6.6 cm, maintained by a very fine mean thickness of 0.03 mm. Furthermore, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, indicating that it relies on soil-available nitrogen rather than symbiotic nitrogen fixation for its nutritional requirements.

Leaf length mean:

10.5 cm

Leaf thickness mean:

0.03 mm

Leaf width mean:

6.6 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) max:

523.1 mg/cm³

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

511.55 mg/cm³

Stem specific density (SSD) min:

500 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Shirakiopsis elliptica is characterized by a specific seasonal cycle, with the flowering period primarily occurring in February. Following pollination, the plant enters its fruiting stage, which typically spans from May through the same month. The fruit produced is classified as a drupe, which is indehiscent in nature; these fruits are relatively small, possessing a mean length of 0.85 cm and a mean width of 0.7 cm. Dispersal is facilitated through a zoochorous syndrome, specifically via endozoochory, meaning the seeds are dispersed through the digestive tracts of animals. The seeds themselves are quite small, with a mean length of 5.7 mm, a maximum height of 4.4 mm, and a maximum width of 4.9 mm.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flowering time :

Feb

Fruit length mean:

0.85 cm

Fruit type :

drupe

Fruit width mean:

0.7 cm

Fruiting time :

May

Seed height max:

4.4 mm

Seed length mean:

5.7 mm

Seed width max:

4.9 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Shirakiopsis elliptica has 2 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, stem.

Leaf

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

Stem

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

Chemicals

Shirakiopsis elliptica has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Amentoflavone, Lupeol, Luteolin 7-O-glucoside.

Amentoflavone

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Lupeol

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Luteolin 7-O-glucoside

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Activities

Shirakiopsis elliptica has 1 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic.

Antidiabetic

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Preparations

Shirakiopsis elliptica has 1 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanolic extracts.

Ethanolic extracts

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