''Guiera'' is a flowering plant genus in the family

Combretaceae The Combretaceae, often called the white mangrove family, are a family of flowering plants in the order Myrtales. The family includes about 530 species of trees, shrubs, and lianas in ca 10 genera. The family includes the leadwood tree, ''Combret ...

. ''Guiera senegalensis'' is the only known species in the genus, found in Tropical Africa in dry areas from

Senegal Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭 (Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 ...

to Sudan (requiring much sunlight and light dry soil). The plant produces the

tannin Tannins (or tannoids) are a class of astringent, polyphenolic biomolecules that bind to and precipitate proteins and various other organic compounds including amino acids and alkaloids. The term ''tannin'' (from Anglo-Norman ''tanner'' ...

3,4,5-Tri-O-galloylquinic acid 3,4,5-Tri-''O''-galloylquinic acid is a hydrolysable tannin found in '' Lepidobotrys staudtii'', in '' Guiera senegalensis'' or in the resurrection plant (''Myrothamnus flabellifolius ''Myrothamnus flabellifolius'' is a plant species in the ge ...

and several

alkaloid Alkaloids are a class of basic, naturally occurring organic compounds that contain at least one nitrogen atom. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Some synthetic compounds of similar ...

s of the

harmane Harmane (harman) is a heterocyclic amine found in a variety of foods including coffee, sauces, and cooked meat. It is also present in tobacco smoke. Chemistry Harmane is a methylated derivative In mathematics, the derivative of a functi ...

family.

Uses

The plant as a whole is often decorative, however the leaves are known as a medicinal 'cure-all' in Africa: It is known for being hypotensive, antidiarrhetic, anti-inflammatory, and helpful for coughs. Its bark yields a marketable gum; its branches are used for baskets, framework, and fences; its roots for toothpicks; and its smoke repels flies.

Ecology

Guiera is a

pioneer species Pioneer species are hardy species that are the first to colonize barren environments or previously biodiverse steady-state ecosystems that have been disrupted, such as by wildfire. Pioneer flora Some lichens grow on rocks without soil, so ...

, spread via animal dispersal and grows well in impoverished soil. It is an indicator species of overgrazed land.

Water pump

Guiera naturally "pumps" water to the surface in a process called '' hydraulic lift'' or ''

hydraulic redistribution Hydraulic redistribution is a passive mechanism where water is transported from moist to dry soils via subterranean networks. It occurs in vascular plants that commonly have roots in both wet and dry soils, especially plants with both taproots that ...

'' (HR): When grown as a companion plant with millet and other thirsty crops, excess water drawn up by ''Guiera senegalensis''’ deep roots during the night is excreted and becomes available to the surrounding crop, dramatically increasing the yield in the case of millet.

References

External links

Monotypic Myrtales genera {{Myrtales-stub