Honeysuckle-tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Honeysuckle Tree
• Splendid Honeysuckle-tree
• Wild Honeysuckle
• Wild Honeysuckle-Tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Rutaea floribunda
• Turraea kaessneri

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Sapindales and the family Meliaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation is found within the genus Turraea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across various regions of the African continent. Within West-Central Tropical Africa, its presence is documented in Burundi, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Moving toward the northeast, the species can also be found in the territories of Sudan and South Sudan. Additionally, its range extends into East Tropical Africa, specifically within Kenya. Collectively, these locations highlight the significant presence of Turraea floribunda across diverse tropical ecosystems.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Turraea floribunda is defined by its adaptability to a wide variety of altitudinal gradients within its native habitats. This species thrives across a significant vertical distribution, occupying diverse ecological niches ranging from low-lying coastal or riverine areas to higher montane zones. Specifically, its environmental tolerance allows it to establish itself at elevations as low as 5 m AMSL, extending upward to a maximum elevation of 915 m AMSL. This broad elevational range suggests that the plant can inhabit various microclimates, from humid lowland forests to slightly more temperate mid-altitude regions, facilitating its presence in diverse landscape mosaics.

Elevational range max:

915 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

5 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Turraea floribunda is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its primary photosynthetic organs and buds at a significant height above the ground, protected by its woody structure. This phanerophyte life form ensures its survival and structural dominance within its ecological niche, facilitating long-term establishment and continuous development over its extended lifespan.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Turraea floribunda is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, which functions as a self-supporting structure rather than a climber or liana. It is an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor as an epiphyte, and is strictly terrestrial in its habitat. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant vertical development, with heights ranging from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of 9 meters, maintaining an average height of approximately 8 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

9 m

Plant height mean:

8 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Turraeae floribunda involves complex dispersal mechanisms characterized by a multi-faceted dispersal syndrome. The plant utilizes an autochorous strategy as a primary method of seed movement, which is complemented by a diverse range of secondary dispersal modes. Specifically, its dispersal syndrome encompasses anemochorous, zoochorous, hydrochorous, and unspecialized pathways, indicating that seeds may be moved by wind, animals, water, or through non-specific environmental vectors. Furthermore, the reproductive dispersal profile is highly versatile, incorporating anthropochorous, endozoochorous, epizoochorous, and myrmecocorous elements, suggesting that seeds are also spread through human activity, internal consumption by animals, attachment to external animal surfaces, and transport by ants, alongside its existing autochorous and unspecialized traits.

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Turraea floribunda 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. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Turraea floribunda has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include acetone.

acetone

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Turraea floribunda has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include malaria.

Malaria

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Turraea floribunda has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include crude acetone extracts.

Crude acetone extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology