Uvaria muricata

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution across several regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is documented in the Ivory Coast. Moving into West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found within the borders of the Central African Republic. The species also inhabits the territories of Cameroon and Congo. Finally, its range extends through the country of Gabon.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Uvaria muriata is characterized by its classification as a phanerophyte, a growth form where the perennating buds are located high above the ground on woody stems. Specifically, it exhibits traits consistent with both phanerophyte and nanophanerophyte categories, indicating a perennial life cycle where it maintains structural integrity through woody branching. As a phanerophyte, the plant avoids seasonal environmental stressors by protecting its reproductive and vegetative buds on elevated branches, allowing it to persist through varying climatic conditions. This life strategy supports its development from a seedling into a perennial woody climber or shrub, ensuring long-term survival and the ability to undergo repeated flowering and fruiting cycles within its natural habitat.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Uvaria muricata is characterized by its woody structure and distinct growth habit. It functions as an obligatory climber, utilizing its specialized growth patterns to ascend surrounding vegetation. While it exhibits the structural complexity of a shrub in its growth form, its development is fundamentally driven by its climbing nature. Furthermore, the plant is strictly terrestrial in its ecological placement, rooting in the ground rather than growing as an epiphyte.

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Woodiness :

woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Uvaria muricata has 3 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root, stem.

Leaf

1. Natural product research

Root

1. Natural product research

Stem

1. Natural product research

Preparations

Uvaria muricata has 6 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanolic extracts of leaves, ethanolic extracts of roots, ethanolic extracts of stems, methanolic extracts of leaves, methanolic extracts of roots.

Ethanolic extracts of leaves

1. Natural product research

Ethanolic extracts of roots

1. Natural product research

Ethanolic extracts of stems

1. Natural product research

Methanolic extracts of leaves

1. Natural product research

Methanolic extracts of roots

1. Natural product research

Methanolic extracts of stems

1. Natural product research