Cape-honeysuckle

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Cape-honeysuckle
• Cape Trumpet Flower
• Tecomaria

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Tecomaria capensis var. flava
• Gelseminum capense
• Tecomaria krebsii
• Tecomaria petersii
• Tecoma capensis
• Tecoma petersii
• Ducoudraea capensis
• Bignonia capensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Lamiales, it is classified under the family Bignoniaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Tecomaria and the specific species Tecomaria capensis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several distinct Mediterranean regions. In Southwestern Europe, it can be found growing within the Balearic Islands as well as throughout mainland Spain. Its presence extends into Southeastern Europe, specifically documented in Italy. Moving toward Northern Africa, the species is also established in Algeria. Finally, its range encompasses the coastal areas of Tunisia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Tecomaria capeensis is characterized by its adaptability to diverse altitudinal gradients, spanning from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 2300 m AMSL. While it is frequently found occupying lowland habitats, its broad elevational range allows it to inhabit various ecological niches across different montane zones. This ability to persist from 0 m to 2300 m AMSL suggests a high degree of environmental tolerance, enabling the species to thrive in both coastal lowland settings and higher-altitude terrains.

Elevational range max:

2300 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Tecomaria capensis is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its long-term persistence within its ecological niche. It exhibits a dual classification of life forms, functioning as a phanerophyte due to its woody structure and elevated branches, while also possessing characteristics of a nanophanerophyte. Throughout its existence, the plant maintains an evergreen habit, retaining its foliage across different seasons rather than undergoing a period of deciduousness.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Tecomaria capensis is characterized by its woody growth form, typically manifesting as a shrub that exhibits climbing tendencies. As a terrestrial species, it functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. The plant displays a self-supporting climbing habit with a scandent shoot orientation, allowing it to ascend through its environment. In terms of stature, it shows significant variability in height, ranging from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 10 m, with an average plant height of approximately 2.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

10 m

Plant height mean:

2.5 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Shoot orientation :

scandent

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Tecomaria capensis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic approach to carbon fixation and energy production. Its vegetative structure features an opposite leaf arrangement, with leaves exhibiting an imparipinnate form. The foliage shows significant morphological variation in size, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 6.5 cm to a maximum of 15 cm, while the width of the leaves fluctuates between a minimum of 0.5 cm and a maximum of 2.5 cm, maintaining a mean width of approximately 1.6 cm. Notably, the plant does not exhibit succulence, indicating a standard water-storage capacity within its tissues, and it does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nutrient availability for its nitrogen requirements.

Leaf arrangement :

opposite

Leaf form :

imparipinnate

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length min:

6.5 cm

Leaf width max:

2.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

1.6 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Tecomaria capensis involves both sexual and asexual processes, with sexual reproduction occurring through bisexual flowers. These flowers are characterized by an orange coloration and can reach a maximum length of 5.5 cm. The plant's pollination is biotic, utilizing both insect and bird syndromes to facilitate fertilization, which is notably absent in terms of self-fertilization. The flowering period is highly flexible, spanning from January through December. Following successful pollination, the plant produces dehiscent capsules as its fruit type. These fruits typically have a mean length of 6 cm and a mean width of 5 cm, though they can reach a maximum length of up to 13 cm. Each capsule is highly prolific, containing more than 1000 seeds, with an average seed mass of 0.0036 g. Once mature, the seeds are dispersed via an anemochorous syndrome, relying on the wind for movement.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flower colour :

orange

Flower length max:

5.5 cm

Flowering time :

Jan

Flowering time :

Dec

Fruit length max:

13 cm

Fruit length mean:

6 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width mean:

5 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bird

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

present

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass mean:

0.0036 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Tecomaria capensis 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 flower.

Flower

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Tecomaria capensis has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include hesperidin.

hesperidin

1. RSC advances

Preparations

Tecomaria capensis has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include flower extract.

Flower extract

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)