Myrtle Bushwillow

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Myrtle Bushwillow
• Stink-Bushwillow
• Two-Winged Pteleopsis
• Two-Winged Stink-Bush
• Two-Winged Stinkbush
• two-winged stink-bushwillow

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pteleopsis myrtifolia
• Combretum myrtifolium
• Pteleopsis stenocarpa
• Pteleopsis obovata
• Pteleopsis variifolia

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae, the order Myrtales, and the family Combretaceae. Finally, it is situated within the genus Terminalia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several distinct regions within the African continent. In East Tropical Africa, its presence is noted in the countries of Kenya and Tanzania. Moving toward the southern part of the continent, it can also be found in South Tropical Africa. Specifically, this species is documented to grow in Angola and Malawi. Additionally, its geographical range extends to include Mozambique within the South Tropical Africa region.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Terminalia myrtifolia is characterized by its preference for hillside and coastal woodlands, where it establishes itself within diverse arboreal communities. This species thrives across a significant altitudinal gradient, occupying environments ranging from low-lying coastal areas at an elevation of 20 m AMSL to higher elevations reaching a maximum of 1050 m AMSL. Its ability to inhabit both rugged slopes and maritime-influenced woodland ecosystems allows it to adapt to varying moisture levels and soil compositions found within these specific topographical niches.

Elevational range max:

1050 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

20 m AMSL

Habitat :

hillside and coastal woodlands

Life history

The life history of Terminalia myrtifolia is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over many years. As a long-lived woody plant, it follows a developmental trajectory that moves from initial germination through several stages of vegetative growth before reaching reproductive maturity. Throughout its lifespan, the plant maintains a continuous presence in its ecosystem, establishing a robust structural foundation that supports seasonal physiological changes. Its perennial nature ensures that it can endure varying environmental conditions over multiple annual cycles, contributing to the long-term stability of its native habitat.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Terminalia myrtifolia is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that functions as a self-supporting structure. It is a terrestrial species that grows independently, lacking any parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variation in height, ranging from a minimum of 2 meters to a maximum of 22 meters, with an average plant height of approximately 5 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

22 m

Plant height mean:

5 m

Plant height min:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Terminalia myrtifolia is characterized by a metabolic framework centered around the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a trait common among many woody dicotyledonous species. Through this C3 mechanism, the plant facilitates carbon fixation primarily via the enzyme Rubisco, which captures atmospheric carbon dioxide to produce three-carbon molecules during the Calvin cycle. This pathway dictates the plant's gas exchange dynamics and water-use efficiency, as it relies on the opening of stomata for CO2 uptake, which simultaneously leads to transpiration. The efficiency of this physiological process is closely tied to environmental variables such as light intensity, temperature, and moisture availability, influencing the plant's overall biomass production and its ability to sustain secondary metabolite synthesis.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Terminalia myrtifolia is characterized by specific seed morphological and dispersal traits. The species produces seeds with a highly consistent mass, where the minimum, maximum, and mean seed mass are all recorded at 0.03165 g. In terms of its reproductive strategy, the plant utilizes an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, indicating that its seeds are primarily dispersed by wind to colonize new habitats.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Seed mass mean:

0.03165 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Terminalia myrtifolia has 3 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antiproliferative.

Antibacterial

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Antifungal

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Antiproliferative

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Conditions

Terminalia myrtifolia has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include dysentery, fever, venereal diseases.

Dysentery

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Fever

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Venereal diseases

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Preparations

Terminalia myrtifolia has 5 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include bark, fruits, leaves, roots, stem bark.

Bark

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Fruits

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Leaves

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Roots

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Stem bark

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS