Karaya gum tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Karaya gum tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Clompanus tomentosa
• Cola tomentosa
• Sterculia hartmanniana

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further organized into the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Malvales. Finally, it is a member of the family Malvaceae and is identified by the genus Sterculia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is found across several specific regions within West Tropical Africa. Its documented distribution begins in the nation of Benin. It is also known to grow within the borders of Burkina. Furthermore, the species can be located in Gambia and Ghana. Finally, its range extends to include the territory of Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Sterculia setigera is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody stems, a structural adaptation that defines its life form. The plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage periodically as part of its seasonal cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Sterculia setigera is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, which functions as a self-supporting structure rather than a climber or liana. This species is a terrestrial plant that grows independently, showing no parasitic or epiphytic behavior. In terms of its physical dimensions, the plant reaches a substantial height, with recorded measurements indicating a maximum height of approximately 12.19 meters and a mean height of around 15 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

12.19214826 m

Plant height mean:

15 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Sterculia setigera is characterized by a complex metabolic framework designed to thrive in specific ecological niches, though it does not possess the biological mechanisms required to function as a nitrogen fixer; therefore, the trait of nitrogen fixation is categorized as no. Its physiological processes involve efficient carbon sequestration through photosynthesis, utilizing specialized leaf structures to manage gas exchange and transpiration rates in response to environmental humidity and light intensity. The plant's nutrient uptake is primarily dependent on the availability of minerals within the soil substrate through its root system, rather than through symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Additionally, its metabolic pathways are optimized for the synthesis of secondary metabolites, which are central to its medicinal properties, and its water-use efficiency is regulated by stomatal conductance to maintain cellular turgor and systemic homeostasis.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Sterculia setigera is characterized by the production of seeds that exhibit significant variation in physical dimensions. The seed mass within this species shows a notable range, with a recorded minimum mass of 0.19669 g and a maximum mass reaching 0.60327 g. When considering the overall population, the average seed mass is measured at a mean value of 0.39852 g. This distribution in seed weight reflects the specific reproductive strategy and resource allocation of the plant during its seed development phase.

Seed mass max:

0.60327 g

Seed mass mean:

0.39852 g

Seed mass min:

0.19669 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Sterculia setigera has 1 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.

Leaf

1. IBRO neuroscience reports
2. Journal of molecular neuroscience : MN

Chemicals

Sterculia setigera has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include SSE, Fatty acids, Triterpenes.

SSE

1. IBRO neuroscience reports
2. Journal of molecular neuroscience : MN

Fatty acids

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Triterpenes

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Conditions

Sterculia setigera has 7 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Apoptosis, apoptosis, cell death, necrosis, neurodegenerative diseases.

Apoptosis

1. IBRO neuroscience reports

Apoptosis

1. Journal of molecular neuroscience : MN

Cell death

1. Journal of molecular neuroscience : MN

Necrosis

1. Journal of molecular neuroscience : MN

Neurodegenerative diseases

1. Journal of molecular neuroscience : MN

Oxidative stress

1. Journal of molecular neuroscience : MN

Trypanosomiasis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Sterculia setigera has 1 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include dried and pulverized bark.

Dried and pulverized bark

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis