Uapaca mole

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sources: Wikidata

Distribution

This plant, commonly known as Uapaca mole, is found across several regions in West Tropical Africa. Its distribution specifically includes the nation of Benin, where it grows within local ecosystems. It can also be located within the borders of Ghana, contributing to the area's botanical diversity. Furthermore, the species is present in Guinea and the Ivory Coast. Finally, its geographical range extends into Liberia, completing its presence in this part of the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Uapaca mole is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons within its natural habitat. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive buds are elevated well above the ground level, a structural adaptation that defines its primary life form. This species maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that its foliage remains functional throughout much of its life cycle rather than shedding all leaves seasonally. This combination of a long-lived perennial lifecycle and a phanerophyte growth habit enables the plant to establish a stable presence in its ecosystem.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Uapaca mole is characterized by its stature as a large, woody tree, reaching an average height of 15 m and capable of attaining a maximum height of approximately 18.288 m. This plant exhibits a self-supporting growth habit and does not function as a climber, liana, or vine. As a terrestrial organism, it lives independently of other plants, neither acting as a parasite nor as an epiphyte. Its structural integrity is defined by its woody composition, which supports its significant vertical development within its ecosystem.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

18.28822238 m

Plant height mean:

15 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Uapaca mole is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which involves the direct fixation of carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle without the specialized anatomical adaptations seen in C4 or CAM plants. This metabolic strategy indicates that the plant relies on the enzyme Rubisco to catalyze the initial carboxylation step, making its carbon assimilation process highly dependent on standard environmental conditions such as light availability and moisture. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form, and instead must rely on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium available within the soil substrate to satisfy its nutritional requirements.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Uapaca mole is characterized by a specific set of biological mechanisms, beginning with its pollination strategy where self-fertilization is absent, necessitating cross-pollination to ensure genetic diversity. The plant produces a fruit classified as a berry, which serves as the vessel for its seeds. This fruit is indehiscent, meaning it does not split open at maturity to release its contents. Instead, the plant relies on a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, utilizing animals to transport its seeds to new locations, facilitating the spread and colonization of the species.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit type :

berry

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Uapaca mole 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

Preparations

Uapaca mole has 2 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Ethanolic and dichloromethane extracts, bark extract.

Ethanolic and dichloromethane extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Bark extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology