medicinal plant

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Mauritius-thorn
• Mysorethorn
• thorny poinciana
• wait-a-while
• woody wait-a-while
• Cat's claw
• Mauritius thorn
• shoofly

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Mezoneuron benguetense
• Caesalpinia decapetala var. pubescens
• Caesalpinia decapetala
• Biancaea ferox
• Biancaea sepiaria
• Caesalpinia ferox
• Caesalpinia japonica
• Caesalpinia benguetensis
• Biancaea scandens
• Caesalpinia decapetala var. japonica
• Caesalpinia sepiaria
• Caesalpinia sepiaria var. pubescens
• Caesalpinia sepiaria var. japonica

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Under the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls into the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Biancaea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range spanning both the Macaronesian islands and parts of West Tropical Africa. Within the Macaronesian region, its distribution includes the Canary Islands and Madeira. Moving toward the African continent, it can be found across several West Tropical African nations. Specifically, it is documented to grow in Liberia and Sierra Leone. Furthermore, its presence extends eastward to include Nigeria within its natural habitat.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Biancaea decapetala is characterized by its presence within Savanna habitats, where it adapts to a broad range of environmental conditions. This species exhibits a significant altitudinal plasticity, occupying a vast vertical gradient that begins at sea level, with a minimum elevation of 9 m AMSL, and extends up to a maximum of 2000 m AMSL. Across its distribution, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 1580 m AMSL, reflecting its ability to thrive in diverse topographical settings within the savanna ecosystem.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1580 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

9 m AMSL

Habitat :

Savanna

Genetics

The genetics of Biancaea decapetala are characterized by a notable degree of karyotypic variation, specifically regarding its chromosomal composition. Scientific analysis of the species has revealed a fluctuating chromosome number, with documented values of 22 and 24. This variation in the diploid number suggests a complex cytogenetic profile that may be influenced by evolutionary processes such as chromosomal rearrangements, polyploidization events, or aneuploidy within different populations. Such genomic plasticity is a key factor in understanding the reproductive biology and evolutionary lineage of the species.

Chromosome number :

22, 24

Life history

The life history of Biancaea decapetala is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist across multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated stems above the soil surface, a growth form that can be further classified under the phanerophyte category. The 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 Biancaea decapetala is characterized by a woody growth form that typically presents as a shrub. This plant is primarily terrestrial in its habitat, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of its physical stature, it exhibits significant variation in height, with measurements ranging from a minimum of 1.2 m to a maximum of 15 m, resulting in a mean plant height of approximately 10 m. Although it possesses a shrub-like growth habit, it is also characterized as a self-supporting climber, capable of maintaining its structure without the need for obligatory climbing mechanisms.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15 m

Plant height mean:

10 m

Plant height min:

1.2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Biancaea decapetala is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation strategies. The plant exhibits significant morphological variation in its foliage, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 40 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width is relatively narrow, spanning from a minimum of 0.2 cm to a maximum of 1.1 cm. Additionally, the species possesses the physiological capability of nitrogen fixation, allowing it to enhance nutrient availability within its environment.

Leaf length max:

40 cm

Leaf length min:

1 cm

Leaf width max:

1.1 cm

Leaf width min:

0.2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Biancaea decapetala is driven by a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects to facilitate fertilization. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of a pod. These pods exhibit significant morphological variation, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 6.5 cm to a maximum of 11 cm, and widths ranging between 2 cm and 3 cm. The fruit is characterized as being dehiscent, meaning it opens at maturity to release its contents. The dispersal syndrome is classified as autochorous, indicating that the plant utilizes self-dispersal mechanisms to spread its offspring. The seeds produced are relatively robust, with a minimum seed length of 8 mm and a maximum of 12 mm, and a minimum seed width of 6 mm reaching a maximum of 8 mm. In terms of mass, the seeds show considerable diversity, with a mean mass of approximately 0.463265 g, while individual seed weights range from a minimum of 0.23781 g to a maximum of 2.252 g.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Fruit length max:

11 cm

Fruit length min:

6.5 cm

Fruit type :

pod

Fruit width max:

3 cm

Fruit width min:

2 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length max:

12 mm

Seed length min:

8 mm

Seed mass max:

2.252 g

Seed mass mean:

0.463265 g

Seed mass min:

0.23781 g

Seed width max:

8 mm

Seed width min:

6 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Biancaea decapetala has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Biancaea decapetala has 12 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 3-Deoxysappanchalcone, Protosappanin B, 1-(26-hydroxyhexacosanoyl)-glycerol, 20-Acetoxytaepeenin D, BETA-SITOSTEROL.

3-Deoxysappanchalcone

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

Protosappanin B

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

1-(26-hydroxyhexacosanoyl)-glycerol

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

20-Acetoxytaepeenin D

1. Journal of natural products

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Lupeol

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Lupeol acetate

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

STIGMASTEROL

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Tomocin E

1. Journal of natural products

betulinic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Biancaea decapetala has 18 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anthelmintic, AntiHIV, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Anticarcinomic.

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiedemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Antileukemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antimalarial

1. Dr. Duke

Antimelanomic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Biancaea decapetala has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include fever, rheumatoid arthritis.

Fever

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Rheumatoid arthritis

1. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

Preparations

Biancaea decapetala has 5 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include 70% ethanol extract, Biancaea decapetala extracts, extract, root bark of Caesalpinia decapetala extract, roots.

70% ethanol extract

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Biancaea decapetala extracts

1. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

Extract

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Root bark of caesalpinia decapetala extract

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Roots

1. Journal of natural products