Red Sandalwood

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Red Sandalwood

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Adenanthera pavonina var. microsperma
• Adenanthera tamarindifolia

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Fabales. Finally, it resides within the family Fabaceae under the genus Adenanthera.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning across multiple continents and regions. In East Tropical Africa, it can be found growing in Tanzania. Its presence extends to the Western Indian Ocean, specifically within the island nation of Mauritius. Furthermore, the species is widely distributed throughout several parts of China. Specifically, it inhabits the China South-Central, Hainan, and China Southeast regions.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Adenanthera microsperma is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the organism to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated shoots above the ground level, specifically manifesting as a phanerophyte in its structural growth habit. This species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage periodically as part of its seasonal biological rhythm.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Adenanthera microsperma is characterized by a robust woody growth form, primarily manifesting as a tree. This species exhibits a significant stature, with an average plant height reaching approximately 20 m. In terms of its structural habit, the plant displays self-supporting climbing characteristics, functioning as a liana or vine that maintains its own upright structure rather than being strictly obligatory or facultative in its climbing mechanism.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

tree

Plant height mean:

20 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Adenanthera microsperma is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency within its ecological niche. Furthermore, the plant functions as a nitrogen fixer, utilizing symbiotic relationships to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a bioavailable form, thereby enhancing its nutrient uptake and supporting growth in potentially nitrogen-limited environments.

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Adenanthera microsperma is characterized by the production of specialized seeds that exhibit high morphological uniformity in terms of weight. Based on quantitative analysis, the seed mass of this species is remarkably consistent, with a mean seed mass of 0.0495 g. This precision in reproductive output is reflected in the lack of variance within the sampled population, as both the maximum and minimum recorded seed masses are identical at 0.0495 g. Such stability in seed mass suggests a highly regulated developmental process during the maturation of the reproductive structures, ensuring that each seed carries a standardized energetic investment for subsequent germination.

Seed mass mean:

0.0495 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Adenanthera microsperma has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include quercitrin.

quercitrin

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Preparations

Adenanthera microsperma has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Extracts.

Extracts

1. Chemistry & biodiversity