Coffee Bean Strychnos

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Coffee Bean Strychnos
• Coffee Hard pear
• Coffee-Bean Strychnos
• Hard -Pear -Tree
• Hard pear
• Hard-Pear Tree
• Natal-Teak
• Panda's Walking-Stick Tree
• Panda's Walkingstick tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Strychnos holstii
• Strychnos procera
• Strychnos sennensis
• Strychnos reticulata
• Strychnos pauciflora
• Strychnos myrcioides
• Strychnos albersii
• Strychnos elliottii
• Strychnos utilis
• Strychnos holstii f. condensata
• Strychnos holstii f. laxiuscula
• Strychnos holstii var. procera
• Strychnos holstii var. reticulata

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It further falls under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Gentianaales, specifically within the family Loganiaceae. Finally, it is identified under the genus Strychnos.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across several key regions of the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found within the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its presence extends into Northeast Tropical Africa, where it inhabits Ethiopia, Somalia, and the areas encompassing Sudan and South Sudan. Additionally, the species is documented in East Tropical Africa, specifically within Kenya. Collectively, these locations highlight its varied ecological range across the tropical belt.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Strychnos henningsii is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution, ranging from as low as 5 m to a maximum elevation of 1310 m AMSL. It thrives in diverse environmental settings, specifically occurring in drier types of forest at elevations above 340 m, where it is frequently associated with olive or podo vegetation. Additionally, the species inhabits riverine bush or thickets, as well as evergreen thickets situated on rocky hills.

Elevational range max:

1310 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

5 m AMSL

Habitat :

(above 340 m) drier types of forest, often asociated with olive or podo, also riverine bush or thickets, evergreen thickets on rocky hills

Life history

The life history of Strychnos henningii is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, meaning it maintains its vegetative structures and biological functions over multiple years rather than completing its cycle within a single growing season. As a long-lived species, it undergoes continuous developmental stages that allow it to establish a stable presence within its ecological niche. This perennial nature enables the plant to invest significant energy into structural growth and resource storage, facilitating repeated reproductive cycles over an extended temporal scale.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Strychnos henningii is characterized by its diverse growth forms, exhibiting characteristics of both a tree and a shrub. It functions as an independent, non-parasitic organism that grows in terrestrial environments, rather than as an epiphyte or an aquatic plant. This woody species displays significant variation in stature, with plant heights ranging from a minimum of 1.5 meters to a maximum of 18 meters, maintaining an average height of approximately 8 meters. Furthermore, the plant exhibits climbing habits, specifically manifesting as a liana, though it can also present as a self-supporting structure.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

18 m

Plant height mean:

8 m

Plant height min:

1.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Strychnos henningsii is characterized by a standard C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing the Calvin cycle to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide through the enzyme RuBisCO. As a non-nitrogen-fixing species, the plant does not possess a symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms; instead, it relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system to satisfy its metabolic nitrogen requirements.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Strychnos henningii involves specific physiological mechanisms and seed characteristics that define its reproductive strategy. A notable aspect of its reproductive biology is the presence of self-fertilization, which allows the plant to complete its life cycle through autogamy. The resulting progeny are contained within seeds that exhibit a relatively consistent mass profile. Detailed analysis of the seed metrics shows a mean seed mass of 0.08756 g, with individual seed weights ranging from a minimum of 0.08352 g to a maximum of 0.0916 g.

Seed mass max:

0.0916 g

Seed mass mean:

0.08756 g

Seed mass min:

0.08352 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Strychnos henningsii 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 stem.

Stem

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Activities

Strychnos henningsii has 4 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antiinflammatory, Antinociceptive, Antispasmodic.

Analgesic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antiinflammatory

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antinociceptive

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antispasmodic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Strychnos henningsii has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Snakebite envenomation, malaria, rheumatism, snake bites.

Snakebite envenomation

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Malaria

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Rheumatism

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Snake bites

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Strychnos henningsii has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include stem bark.

Stem bark

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM