Bauhinia tarapotensis

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pauletia tarapotensis
• Ariaria superba
• Bauhinia amplifolia
• Bauhinia baina

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Bauhinia tarapotensis, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, following the order Fabales. Finally, it is a member of the family Fabaceae within the genus Bauhinia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated primarily within the Western South American region. Its range extends through the diverse landscapes of Colombia and Ecuador. Furthermore, it can be found growing within the territories of Peru. In addition to these western countries, the species is also located in Northern Brazil. Together, these locations define the natural habitat for Bauhinia tarapotensis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Bauhinia tarapotensis is characterized by its specific preference for the Floresta de Várzea habitat, where it thrives within these seasonally flooded forest ecosystems. The species occupies a defined altitudinal niche, with its distribution ranging from a minimum elevation of 200 m AMSL to a maximum elevation of 600 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

200 m AMSL

Habitat :

Floresta de Várzea

Morphology

The morphology of Bauhinia tarapotensis is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that reaches a maximum plant height of 8 meters. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic lifestyles, maintaining an independent existence without being an obligate or facultative parasite. The plant is strictly self-supporting, lacking the climbing tendencies of lianas or vines, and functions as a robust, non-epiphytic organism within its ecosystem.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Climber :

facultative

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

8 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Bauhinia tarapotensis is characterized by its metabolic efficiency and specialized adaptations to its environmental niche. A fundamental aspect of its energy production is its photosynthetic pathway, which utilizes the C3 pathway to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide. Through this process, the plant employs the enzyme RuBisCO to catalyze the carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate, leading to the formation of three-carbon compounds during the Calvin cycle. This C3 mechanism dictates the plant's stomatal conductance and water-use efficiency, influencing how it manages transpiration and gas exchange under varying light and moisture conditions. Additionally, its physiological processes include complex vascular transport mechanisms and nutrient uptake patterns that support the structural integrity and medicinal biochemical synthesis characteristic of the species.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Bauhinia tarapotensis has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Journal of natural products

Activities

Bauhinia tarapotensis has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.

Antioxidant

1. Journal of natural products