Nigerian stylo

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Nigerian stylo

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ononis coriifolia
• Stylosanthes erecta var. acuminata
• Stylosanthes erecta var. guineensis

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Stylosanthes erecta, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is classified under the genus Stylosanthes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated within the West Tropical Africa region. It can be found growing across several distinct countries throughout this part of the continent. Specifically, its presence is documented in the nation of Benin. The species also inhabits the territories of Burkina and Ghana. Furthermore, the plant's range extends into Guinea and the Ivory Coast.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Stylosanthes erecta is specifically characterized by its presence in coastal sandy areas at sea-level, particularly within the K7 and Z ecological zones. This species is highly adapted to the unique environmental pressures of maritime littoral zones, where it thrives in nutrient-poor, well-drained sandy substrates. Its distribution is closely linked to these coastal formations, indicating a specialized niche that requires tolerance for saline influences, high solar exposure, and the shifting dynamics of sand-based habitats.

Habitat :

(K7 and Z) coastal sandy areas, sea-level

Life history

The life history of Stylosanthes erecta is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist across multiple growing seasons. In terms of its growth habit and structural classification, the species is categorized as a chamaephyte, a life form where the perennating buds are located close to or just above the soil surface. This classification is consistent across both its general life form assessment and specific morphological categorization, identifying it as a chamaephyte rather than a phanerophyte, hemicryptophyte, or therophyte.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Stylosanthes erecta is characterized by its growth form as a woody herb and forb, typically exhibiting a self-supporting structure rather than acting as a climber. The plant reaches an average height of approximately 0.61 meters. It functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte, and is categorized as a terrestrial species rather than an aquatic or semiaquatic one.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

0.609607413 m

Woodiness :

woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Stylosanthes erecta has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include IRON.

IRON

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

Conditions

Stylosanthes erecta has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cystitis, schistosomiasis.

Cystitis

1. Le Mali medical

Schistosomiasis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Stylosanthes erecta has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include methanol extract of aerial part.

Methanol extract of aerial part

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology