small-fruit wild frangipani

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• small-fruit wild frangipani

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Voacanga schweinfurthii var. parviflora
• Voacanga africana var. auriculata
• Voacanga glaberrima
• Voacanga puberula
• Voacanga bequaertii
• Voacanga angustifolia
• Voacanga africana var. glabra
• Voacanga angolensis
• Voacanga africana var. lutescens
• Voacanga glabra
• Voacanga schweinfurthii
• Voacanga schweinfurthii var. puberula
• Voacanga spectabilis
• Voacanga eketensis
• Voacanga klainii
• Voacanga lemosii
• Voacanga lutescens
• Voacanga magnifolia
• Voacanga boehmii

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Gentianaales, it is classified under the family Apocynaceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Voacanga as Voacanga africana.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across the diverse landscapes of West Tropical Africa. Within this region, its presence is documented in the nation of Benin. It can also be found growing within the borders of Burkina Faso. Furthermore, the species extends its range into the country of Gambia. Finally, its geographical footprint includes the territory of Ghana and the coastal area of Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Voacanga africana is intrinsically linked to the structural complexity of tropical forest ecosystems, where it primarily occupies the understory and sub-canopy layers. Its natural habitat consists of moist lowland evergreen forests and secondary rainforests, often flourishing in areas characterized by high humidity and dappled sunlight. Within these environments, the species thrives in nutrient-rich, well-drained soils that support dense vegetation, playing a role in the mid-level strata of the forest architecture. The plant's presence is often indicative of stable, climax forest conditions or the early stages of forest regeneration, where its growth is supported by the microclimates created by larger canopy trees. Its ecological niche involves navigating the competition for light and space common in dense tropical biomes, while contributing to the local food web through its fruit production.

Habitat :

(?)

Life history

The life history of Voacanca africanana is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its presence in the ecosystem over multiple growing seasons. In terms of its growth habit and structural development, the species exhibits dual life form classifications: it functions as a phanerophyte, possessing significant above-ground woody structures, while also demonstrating characteristics of a nanophanerophyte. Throughout its existence, the plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness pattern, retaining its foliage continuously rather than shedding it seasonally, which allows for sustained photosynthetic activity.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Voacanca africana is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, functioning as a self-supporting structure rather than a climber or vine. As a terrestrial species, it is an independent organism that does not exhibit parasitic or epiphytic behavior. The plant displays significant variation in size, with heights ranging from a minimum of approximately 1.52 meters to a maximum of about 9.14 meters, resulting in a mean plant height of approximately 5.67 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

9.144111192 m

Plant height mean:

5.66666666666667 m

Plant height min:

1.524018532 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Voacanage africana is characterized by its specific metabolic and nutritional strategies within its ecological niche. The plant utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common mechanism for tropical woody species where carbon fixation occurs primarily through the enzyme RuBisCO during the Calvin cycle. In terms of nutrient acquisition, Voacanage africana is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, relying instead on the uptake of nitrogenous compounds directly from the soil.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Voacannga africana is characterized by a highly variable flowering period that can occur throughout the entire year, with March serving as a notable point for both the onset and conclusion of flowering activity. The plant produces dry fruits, and its seed characteristics show a specific range of dimensions and weights. The seeds possess a consistent volume of 63 mm³, as both the minimum and maximum recorded values, as well as the mean volume, are identical at this measurement. In terms of mass, the seeds vary from a minimum of 0.03507 g to a maximum of 0.1 g, with an average seed mass of approximately 0.059956667 g. Regarding its dispersal strategy, the species utilizes an autochorous syndrome, meaning it relies on mechanisms for self-dispersal.

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Flowering time :

Mar

Fruit dryness :

dry

Seed mass max:

0.1 g

Seed mass mean:

0.059956667 g

Seed mass min:

0.03507 g

Seed volume max:

63 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Voacanga africana has 4 reported plant parts identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, seed, fruit, stem.

Root

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Seed

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fruit

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Stem

1. Phytochemistry

Chemicals

Voacanga africana has 14 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (Z)-9-Octadecenoic acid, (Z,Z)-9,12-Octadecadienoic acid, Akuammidine, Fatty acids, IBOGAINE.

(Z)-9-Octadecenoic acid

1. ACS omega

(Z,Z)-9,12-Octadecadienoic acid

1. ACS omega

Akuammidine

1. ACS omega

Fatty acids

1. ACS omega

IBOGAINE

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan

Octadecanoic acid

1. ACS omega

Strictamine

1. ACS omega

Tabersonine

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan

Tetradecanoic acid

1. ACS omega

Voacamidine

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan

Activities

Voacanga africana has 4 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Anticonvulsant, Antisecretory, Antispasmodic.

Antibacterial

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Anticonvulsant

1. Epilepsy & behavior : E&B

Antisecretory

1. Die Pharmazie

Antispasmodic

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Conditions

Voacanga africana has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Aspergillus niger, convulsions, drug addiction, peptic ulcers.

Aspergillus niger

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Convulsions

1. Epilepsy & behavior : E&B

Drug addiction

1. Natural product letters

Peptic ulcers

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Preparations

Voacanga africana has 8 reported preparations identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include seeds, Plant hydroethanolic extracts, bark, extract from the bark, extracts from root bark.

Seeds

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Plant hydroethanolic extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Bark

1. Natural product letters

Extract from the bark

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Extracts from root bark

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fruit extract

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Methanol extract

1. Annals of tropical medicine and parasitology

Root bark

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan