fever tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Fever Tree
• Fever-tree Acacia
• Fevertree Acacia
• Fevertree Thorn
• Look-Out Tree
• Naivasha Thorn
• Sulphur Bark
• Sulphur Bark Thorn
• Sulphur Tree
• Sulphur-Bark
• Sulphur-Bark Thorn
• Sulphur-Bark Tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Acacia songwensis
• Acacia xanthophloea

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Specifically, it falls under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Fabales. Finally, it is a member of the family Fabaceae and is identified by the genus Vachellia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across various regions of the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found growing within the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its range extends into Northeast Tropical Africa, specifically in the nation of Somalia. The species is also widely distributed throughout East Tropical Africa, encompassing both Kenya and Tanzania. Finally, its presence reaches into South Tropical Africa, where it is located in Malawi.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Vachellia xanthophloea is characterized by its preference for specific low-to-mid altitude environments, with an elevational range spanning from a minimum of 25 m AMSL to a maximum of 800 m AMSL. This species is specifically adapted to moisture-influenced landscapes, frequently inhabiting lakesides and areas characterized by black cotton soil. These heavy, clay-rich soil types provide a distinct substrate that defines its ecological niche within these lowland habitats.

Elevational range max:

800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

25 m AMSL

Habitat :

lakesides, black cotton soil areas

Life history

The life history of Vachellia xanthophloea is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle within a single year. Its seasonal development is further defined by its deciduous nature, meaning the plant undergoes a period of leaf shedding, typically in response to specific environmental cues or seasonal changes.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Vachellia xanthophloea is characterized by its stature as a large, woody tree that typically reaches a mean height of 20 m, though it can grow to a maximum height of 30 m. As a self-supporting species, it does not function as a climber or a liana, maintaining a robust and independent growth form. The plant is strictly terrestrial in its habitat, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. Its structural integrity is defined by its woody nature, supporting its significant vertical development within its ecosystem.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

30 m

Plant height mean:

20 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Vachellia xanthophloea is characterized by a specific metabolic framework optimized for its environmental niche. The plant utilizes a C3 photosynthetic pathway, meaning it fixes carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle using the enzyme RuBisCO, which is typical for many woody species in its ecological group. In terms of nutrient cycling and symbiotic relationships, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, lacking the specialized root nodules or symbiotic associations with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Vachellia xanthophloea is driven by biotic pollination mechanisms, specifically involving insect interactions. Within this pollination syndrome, the plant relies heavily on bees to facilitate the transfer of pollen, indicating a specialized relationship with these insect pollinators. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces seeds characterized by a relatively small and consistent mass. The seed mass values range from a minimum of 0.029 g to a maximum of 0.03787 g, with an average seed mass calculated at 0.0342575 g.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.03787 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0342575 g

Seed mass min:

0.029 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Vachellia xanthophloea 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. Fitoterapia

Chemicals

Vachellia xanthophloea has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Procyanidins, polyphenols.

Flavonoids

1. Fitoterapia

Procyanidins

1. Fitoterapia

polyphenols

1. Fitoterapia

Preparations