buffalo thorn

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Buffalo-Thorn Jujube
• Wait-A-Bit Tree
• buffalo-thorn
• Buffalo Thorn

Scientific Names

Accepted name

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 Rosales, it is classified under the family Rhamnaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Ziziphus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across the West Tropical Africa region. It can be found growing within the borders of Benin and Burkina. Additionally, its presence extends to the coastal and inland areas of Gambia. The species is also documented to thrive in the tropical environments of Guinea. Finally, its geographical range includes the diverse landscapes of Ivory Coast.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Ziziphus mucronata is characterized by its adaptability to diverse landscape features and a broad vertical distribution across varying altitudes. It is primarily found growing along rivers or luggas, as well as within the structured environments of bushland, woodland, or wooded grassland. This species demonstrates a significant altitudinal tolerance, occupying an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 15 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 2000 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

15 m AMSL

Habitat :

along rivers or luggas, in bushland, woodland or wooded grassland

Life history

The life history of Ziziphus mucronata is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over many growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs well above the ground, typically forming woody structures such as shrubs or trees that can withstand various environmental pressures. Furthermore, its phenology is marked by a deciduous nature, meaning it undergoes a seasonal shedding of its leaves, a strategy often utilized to manage water loss or adapt to changing climatic conditions.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ziziphus mucronata is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, which functions as a self-supporting structure rather than a climber or vine. As an independent organism, it does not exhibit parasitic or epiphytic behavior, maintaining a strictly terrestrial lifestyle. The plant displays significant variation in stature, with heights ranging from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of 20 meters, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 7.5 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Plant height mean:

7.5 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ziziphus mucronata is characterized by a metabolic framework utilizing the C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation process and water-use efficiency within its natural habitat. In terms of nutrient cycling and soil interaction, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil through its root system rather than through symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ziziphus mucronata is driven by biotic pollination processes, specifically utilizing a biotic pollination syndrome that relies heavily on insects, with bees acting as key pollinators. The plant produces fleshy, indehiscent fruits categorized as drupes, which maintain a mean length and width of approximately 1.25 cm. These fleshy fruits facilitate a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, allowing animals to aid in the spread of the species. Within these fruits, the seeds exhibit significant morphological variation; while the mean seed mass is approximately 0.7102 g, individual seeds can range from a minimum of 0.03787 g to a maximum of 1.43112 g. The seed volume is consistently measured at 810 mm³, representing the mean, minimum, and maximum values recorded for the species.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length mean:

1.25 cm

Fruit type :

drupe

Fruit width mean:

1.25 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

1.43112 g

Seed mass mean:

0.7102485715 g

Seed mass min:

0.03787 g

Seed volume max:

810 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Ziziphus mucronata has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Mutagenic.

Antidiabetic

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Mutagenic

1. Toxicology letters

Medicinal Uses

Ziziphus mucronata has 15 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Alzheimer's disease, Cervical Cancer, Lung Cancer, cancer, cholera.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations