red sandalwood

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Coral Tree
• Red Sandalwood
• Circassian-tree
• beadtree
• coralwood
• false jequirity
• false red-sandalwood
• red beadtree
• red beantree
• red sandalwood-tree
• red-sandalwood
• sandal beadtree
• sandalwood-tree
• zumbictree
• Lady-Coot
• Saga Tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. It is further categorized under the genus Adenanthera, specifically known as the species Adenanthera pavonina.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across the coastal and inland regions of West Tropical Africa. Within this specific geographic zone, it can be found growing in the nation of Ghana. Its range also extends through the territories of Guinea and Guinea-Bissau. Furthermore, the species is documented to inhabit parts of Sierra Leone. Finally, the distribution of this medicinal plant includes the expansive landscapes of Nigeria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Adenanthera pavonina is characterized by its preference for the dense, humid environments found within the rain forest. This species occupies a specific vertical distribution within its landscape, ranging from sea level up to an elevation of 600 m AMSL. By inhabiting these lowland to mid-elevation tropical forest ecosystems, the plant thrives in the shaded, moisture-rich conditions provided by the rainforest canopy and understory.

Elevational range max:

600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

rain forest

Life history

The life history of Adenanthera pavonina is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. It is classified as a phanerophyte, specifically exhibiting the traits of a phanerophyte and a nanophanerophyte, meaning its buds are located on branches well above the ground level. Additionally, the species is deciduous, undergoing seasonal shedding of its foliage as part of its natural growth rhythm.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Adenanthera pavonina is characterized by its growth form as a large, woody tree that functions as an independent organism, meaning it does not act as a parasite. This terrestrial species exhibits significant variation in stature, with plant heights ranging from a minimum of 6 meters to a maximum of 40 meters, maintaining an average height of approximately 18 meters. As a self-supporting tree, it does not possess the climbing habits of a liana or vine, nor does it function as an epiphyte, remaining strictly terrestrial in its growth habit. Its structural integrity is defined by its woody nature, providing the necessary support for its substantial height within its natural habitat.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

40 m

Plant height mean:

18 m

Plant height min:

6 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Adenanthera pavonina is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits significant morphological variation in its foliage, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 40 cm, while leaf widths vary from 1.2 cm to 32 cm. It does not exhibit succulence, maintaining standard leaf water storage capacities. A key physiological advantage of this species is its ability to function as a nitrogen fixer, facilitating the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen to support nutrient availability. Additionally, its structural integrity and biomass density are reflected in a mean stem specific density (SSD) of 740 mg/cm³.

Leaf length max:

40 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

32 cm

Leaf width min:

1.2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

740 mg/cm³

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Adenanthera pavonina is driven by biotic pollination syndromes, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen to its white flowers. These flowers are arranged in inflorescences that vary in length, ranging from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 0.2 m. Following successful pollination, the plant develops a dry, dehiscent fruit characterized as a pod. These pods are relatively large, with lengths spanning between 15 cm and 22 cm and a maximum width of 2 cm. The seeds produced within these pods exhibit a consistent seed volume of 240 mm³, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 7.5 mm to a maximum of 10 mm. The seed mass varies significantly, with a minimum of 0.057 g, a mean of 0.22174 g, and a maximum of 0.2832 g. Dispersal of the offspring is achieved through a combination of zoochorous and autochorous syndromes, ensuring the spread of the species across its habitat.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Flower colour :

white

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

22 cm

Fruit length min:

15 cm

Fruit type :

pod

Fruit width max:

2 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.2 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.1 m

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length max:

10 mm

Seed length min:

7.5 mm

Seed mass max:

0.2832 g

Seed mass mean:

0.22174 g

Seed mass min:

0.057 g

Seed volume max:

240 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Adenanthera pavonina has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, seed.

Leaf

1. Natural product research
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Seed

1. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology

Chemicals

Adenanthera pavonina has 16 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 2,4,4,7a-Tetramethyl-1-(3-oxobutyl)octahydro-1H-indene-2-carboxylic acid, CHLOROGENIC ACID, Diazoprogesterone, EtOAc, Flavonoids.

2,4,4,7a-Tetramethyl-1-(3-oxobutyl)octahydro-1H-indene-2-carboxylic acid

1. Frontiers in molecular biosciences

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Diazoprogesterone

1. Frontiers in molecular biosciences

EtOAc

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Flavonoids

1. Natural product research

Gallic acid

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

MeOH

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

PETROLEUM ETHER

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Polysaccharide

1. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology

SINAPIC ACID

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Adenanthera pavonina has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include diabetes mellitus, dysentery.

Diabetes mellitus

1. Frontiers in molecular biosciences

Dysentery

1. Natural product research

Preparations

Adenanthera pavonina has 9 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include EtOAc, MeOH, chemically sulfated derivate, crude methanolic extract, methanol extract of the leaves.

Etoac

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Meoh

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Chemically sulfated derivate

1. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology

Crude methanolic extract

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Methanol extract of the leaves

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Methanolic leaf extract

1. Frontiers in molecular biosciences

Native ap seed polysaccharide

1. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology

Petroleum ether

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Water

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine