finger-root

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• finger-root

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Uvaria macrocarpa
• Uva cristata
• Uva chamae
• Uva cylindrica
• Uvaria cristata
• Xylopiastrum macrocarpum
• Uvaria cylindrica
• Uvaria nigrescens

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Uvaria chamae, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Magnoliales. It is further categorized into the family Annonaceae and the genus Uvaria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several nations within the West Tropical Africa region. It can be found growing in the natural landscapes of Benin and Burkina. Additionally, its presence extends to the coastal and inland areas of Gambia. The species is also documented throughout the territory of Ghana. Finally, its geographical range includes the country of Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Uvaria chamae is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth strategy, the species is classified as a phanerophyte, specifically exhibiting characteristics consistent with both phanerophyte and nanophanerophyte life forms, which indicates that its perennating buds are located well above the ground level.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Uvaria chamae is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub that exhibits self-supporting climbing habits. This plant typically reaches a mean height of 3 meters, with a maximum recorded height of approximately 3.048 meters. Functionally, it acts as a self-supporting climber rather than an obligatory vine or liana, maintaining its structure independently. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic or epiphytic tendencies, growing instead as an independent organism without parasitic requirements.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3.048037064 m

Plant height mean:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Uvaria chamae is characterized by its metabolic processes and nutrient acquisition strategies typical of woody climbing shrubs in tropical ecosystems. As a member of the Annonaceae family, its physiological profile is centered on efficient photosynthetic carbon assimilation and the synthesis of diverse secondary metabolites, including acetogenins and alkaloids, which serve as chemical defense mechanisms. Regarding its interaction with soil nutrients, the plant does not exhibit the physiological capacity for symbiotic nitrogen fixation; it is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil via its root system rather than hosting diazotrophic bacteria in specialized nodules. Its physiological regulation of water and mineral transport is optimized for high-humidity environments, facilitating the transpiration rates necessary to support its climbing habit and the development of its fleshy fruits.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Uvaria chamae is characterized by the development of fleshy fruits that serve as the primary vehicle for seed dispersal. These fleshy fruits contain seeds that exhibit highly consistent morphological dimensions, with a recorded seed volume that remains constant at a maximum and minimum of 270 mm³, resulting in a mean seed volume of 270 mm³. The seeds are relatively lightweight, maintaining a uniform mass throughout their development; the seed mass is recorded at a constant value of 0.09639 g, which serves as both the minimum, maximum, and mean mass for the species. This uniformity in seed size and mass, combined with the fleshy nature of the fruit, suggests a specialized reproductive strategy aimed at efficient nutrient packaging and dispersal.

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Seed mass mean:

0.09639 g

Seed volume max:

270 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Uvaria chamae has 2 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, leaf.

Root

1. Journal of natural products
2. IARC scientific publications
3. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Leaf

1. BMC veterinary research
2. Die Pharmazie

Chemicals

Uvaria chamae has 20 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Chamanetin, Chamuvaritin, Dichamanetin, Uvarinol, (+)-Armepavine.

Chamanetin

1. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology
2. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Chamuvaritin

1. Cancer letters
2. IARC scientific publications

Dichamanetin

1. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Uvarinol

1. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

(+)-Armepavine

1. Die Pharmazie

ALUMINUM

1. Journal of toxicology

CADMIUM

1. Journal of toxicology

CHROMIUM

1. Journal of toxicology

Corydine

1. Die Pharmazie

Desacetyluvaricin

1. Journal of natural products

Activities

Uvaria chamae has 6 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antimalarial, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.

Antibacterial

1. Journal of toxicology

Anticancer

1. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology

Antimalarial

1. Drug and chemical toxicology

Antimicrobial

1. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology

Antioxidant

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Mutagenic

1. Cancer letters

Medicinal Uses

Uvaria chamae has 11 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, antimalarial, dental caries, dysmenorrhea.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations