Strychnos innocua

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

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 Gentianales, falling under the family Loganiaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Strychnos.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily found across the diverse landscapes of West Tropical Africa. Its specific distribution includes several key nations within this vibrant biological region. Specifically, it can be located in the territories of Benin and Burkina. The species also inhabits parts of Ghana and Guinea-Bissau. Furthermore, its presence extends into the country of Guinea, marking a significant range for this medicinal species.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Strychnos innocua is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive buds are elevated well above the ground, typically manifesting as a woody climbing shrub or liana. The plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage periodically as part of its seasonal biological cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Strychnos innocua is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, often manifesting as a liana. It is a terrestrial species that functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. In terms of stature, the plant typically reaches a mean height of approximately 10 m, with recorded maximum heights of about 9.14 m. While it possesses the structural characteristics of a tree, its climbing habit as a liana allows it to navigate its environment through varying degrees of support.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

9.144111192 m

Plant height mean:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Strychnos innocua is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in varying environmental conditions. As a plant utilizing the C3 mechanism, it undergoes the Calvin cycle directly within the mesophyll cells, relying on the enzyme RuBisCO to catalyze the initial carboxylation of CO2. Furthermore, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms; instead, it must rely on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil to satisfy its nutritional requirements for growth and secondary metabolite production.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Strychnos innocua is characterized by the production of a drupe, which serves as the primary fruit type for the species. These fruits are indehiscent, meaning they do not split open at maturity to release their contents. The plant employs a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, specifically utilizing endozoochory, where seeds are dispersed through the digestive tracts of animals. The seeds themselves vary in size, with a recorded minimum mass of 0.31865 g, a maximum mass of 0.79628 g, and an average seed mass of approximately 0.5298625 g.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Fruit type :

drupe

Seed mass max:

0.79628 g

Seed mass mean:

0.5298625 g

Seed mass min:

0.31865 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Strychnos innocua 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 root.

Root

1. Steroids
2. Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences

Chemicals

Strychnos innocua has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CAMPESTEROL, polyphenols, 2,13-octadecadien-1-ol, Flavonoids, Linalool.

CAMPESTEROL

1. Steroids
2. Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences

polyphenols

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Journal of tropical medicine

2,13-octadecadien-1-ol

1. Steroids

Flavonoids

1. Journal of tropical medicine

Linalool

1. Steroids

NEROLIDOL

1. Steroids

Tannins

1. Journal of tropical medicine

Umbelliferone

1. Steroids

Activities

Strychnos innocua has 1 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial.

Antimicrobial

1. Steroids

Medicinal Uses

Strychnos innocua has 3 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include diarrhea, infectious diseases, malaria.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations