Terminalia laxiflora

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Terminalia laxiflora var. pubescens
• Terminalia elliotii
• Terminalia roseogrisea
• Terminalia sokodensis
• Terminalia schweinfurthii
• Terminalia repanda

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is situated in the order Myrtales and the family Combretaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement within the genus Terminalia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily found throughout the West Tropical Africa region. Specifically, its natural range includes the country 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 geographical distribution extends to Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Terminalia laxiflora is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. As a member of the phanerophyte life forms, it maintains its photosynthetic buds high above the ground on woody stems, a trait common to many arboreal species. This classification as a phanerophyte is consistent across its developmental stages, ensuring structural stability and long-term survival within its ecological niche.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Terminalia laxiflora is characterized by a woody growth form, primarily manifesting as a self-supporting tree. It is a terrestrial species that functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor as an epiphyte. As a non-climbing, self-supporting structure, it reaches a maximum plant height of approximately 10.97 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

10.97293343 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Terminalia laxiflora is fundamentally characterized by its utilization of the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a mechanism wherein carbon dioxide is fixed directly into a three-carbon compound during the initial stage of the Calvin cycle. This metabolic process involves the enzyme RuBisCO facilitating the carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate, which is typical for many woody tropical species. As a C3 plant, its physiological efficiency and gas exchange patterns are closely tied to environmental variables such as light intensity, temperature, and moisture availability, influencing its transpiration rates and overall carbon assimilation. The metabolic framework of this plant relies on the efficient management of photorespiration and water-use efficiency to maintain biomass production within its specific ecological niche.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

Reproduction in Terminalia laxiflora is characterized by the production of seeds that exhibit a highly uniform mass profile. Based on botanical data, the seeds possess a consistent seed mass, with the mean value recorded at 0.50948 g. This uniformity is reflected in the maximum and minimum measurements, both of which are exactly 0.50948 g, indicating a lack of variance in weight within the sampled population. This precise seed mass is a critical factor in the plant's dispersal and establishment mechanisms within its natural habitat.

Seed mass mean:

0.50948 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Terminalia laxiflora 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 leaf.

Leaf

1. Planta medica

Activities

Terminalia laxiflora has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.

Antioxidant

1. Heliyon

Conditions

Terminalia laxiflora has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Porphyromonas gingivalis.

Porphyromonas gingivalis

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Preparations

Terminalia laxiflora has 2 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts, methanolic extracts of Terminalia laxiflora (wood).

Extracts

1. Heliyon

Methanolic extracts of terminalia laxiflora (wood)

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine