Powder puf

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• powderpuff-tree
• red powder-puff
• pink powder-puff
• scarlet powder-puff
• stickpea
• Powder-puff Tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Anneslia haematocephala
• Feuilleea haematocephala

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Calliandra haematocephala, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Fabales. Ultimately, it is a member of the Fabaceae family within the genus Calliandra.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad and diverse geographical distribution spanning multiple continents. In West Tropical Africa, it can be found growing within the borders of Ghana and Nigeria. Its presence extends into West-Central Tropical Africa, specifically documented in Cameroon. Moving further south, the species is also located in South Tropical Africa within Zimbabwe. Finally, its range reaches into Asia, where it is distributed across China Southeast.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Calliandra haematocephala is defined by its adaptation to a broad vertical distribution within its native habitat, allowing it to inhabit diverse montane environments. This species occupies a significant altitudinal gradient, thriving in ecological niches that span from lower elevations of 370 m AMSL to high-altitude reaches of up to 1600 m AMSL. This expansive elevational range suggests a high degree of environmental plasticity, enabling the plant to persist across varying temperature regimes, atmospheric pressures, and moisture levels characteristic of different montane zones.

Elevational range max:

1600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

370 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Calliandra haematocephala is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle in a single year. As a perennial species, it maintains its vegetative structures through successive years, often developing robust root systems or woody tissues that facilitate long-term survival and periodic regrowth. This enduring life strategy enables the plant to withstand seasonal fluctuations and invest energy into repeated reproductive cycles, ensuring its continued presence and stability within its ecological niche.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Calliandra haematocephala is characterized by a woody growth form that can manifest as either a shrub or a tree, reaching a maximum plant height of 4 meters. Although it possesses characteristics that allow for diverse ecological positioning, it is fundamentally a terrestrial species rather than an aquatic or semiaquatic one, and it functions as a terrestrial organism rather than an epiphyte. In terms of its structural support, the plant is self-supporting, lacking the climbing or vine-like tendencies of lianas or obligatory climbers. Furthermore, it is an independent organism, showing no parasitic behavior, and maintains a sturdy, woody constitution throughout its development.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

4 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Calliandra haematocephala is characterized by a metabolic framework governed by a C3 photosynthetic pathway. In this process, the initial fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide occurs through the carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) by the enzyme RuBisCO, directly resulting in the formation of a three-carbon compound, 3-phosphoglycerate. This carbon fixation mechanism dictates the plant's gas exchange patterns and water-use efficiency, as the reliance on the C3 cycle necessitates specific stomatal regulations to balance CO2 uptake with transpirational water loss. The energy conversion within the chloroplasts follows standard light-dependent and light-independent reactions typical of C3 species, optimizing the assimilation of solar energy into chemical energy to support the plant's structural growth and secondary metabolite production.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Calliandra haematocephala has 2 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 leaf, seed.

Leaf

1. Applied and environmental microbiology

Seed

1. Applied and environmental microbiology

Chemicals

Calliandra haematocephala has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Pipecolic acid, Triterpenes, cis-5-Hydroxypipecolic acid, proline.

Pipecolic acid

1. Applied and environmental microbiology

Triterpenes

1. International journal of molecular sciences

cis-5-Hydroxypipecolic acid

1. Applied and environmental microbiology

proline

1. Applied and environmental microbiology

Activities

Calliandra haematocephala has 4 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antidiabetic, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.

Anticancer

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Antidiabetic

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Antimicrobial

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Antioxidant

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Conditions

Calliandra haematocephala has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Aspergillus niger, antidiabetic, antioxidant.

Aspergillus niger

1. Applied and environmental microbiology

Antidiabetic

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Antioxidant

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Preparations

Calliandra haematocephala has 1 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include leaf extracts.

Leaf extracts

1. Applied and environmental microbiology