Blackbean

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Australian-chestnut
• Moreton Bay-bean
• Moreton Bay-chestnut
• beantree
• black-bean
• Australian Chestnut
• Black bean
• Moreton Bay Chestnut

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Castanospermum brevivexillum
• Vieillardia grandiflora
• Castanocarpus australis
• Castanospermum australe var. brevivexillum
• Castanospermum cunninghamii

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. Following the subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Castanospermum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution that spans across multiple continents and regions. In East Tropical Africa, its presence is documented in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Moving further south, the species can also be found within South Tropical Africa, specifically in Zimbabwe. Additionally, its range extends to the Indian Subcontinent, where it is located in Bangladesh. This wide-reaching distribution highlights the adaptability of the species across various tropical climates.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Castanospermum australe is characterized by its ability to thrive within dense secondary shrub and ruderal vegetation, where it often acts as a pioneer or gap-opportunist species. It typically establishes itself in disturbed environments or areas undergoing successional recovery, utilizing the structural complexity of thickets to compete for light and space. By colonizing these ruderal zones, the plant exploits nutrient-rich, disturbed soils, playing a critical role in the structural development of the ecosystem as it transitions from disturbed ground to more stabilized forest stages.

Habitat :

dense secondary shrub and ruderal vegetation

Life history

The life history of Castanospermum australe is characterized by its nature as a perennial species, meaning it lives for many years and maintains its presence in the ecosystem through long-term growth cycles. As a robust tree, it maintains an evergreen habit, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and provides photosynthetic activity throughout all seasons without the need for a shedding period. This combination of a long-lived lifecycle and continuous leaf presence allows the plant to establish a dominant presence in its natural habitat, contributing to the stability of the forest canopy over many decades.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Castanospermum australe is characterized by its growth form as a large, self-supporting tree that reaches a mean height of 20 m, with the potential to attain a maximum height of 35 m. As an independent organism, it functions without a parasitic relationship, maintaining a terrestrial existence rather than being aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic. Although it possesses a self-supporting structure, it is categorized as a non-climber, lacking the characteristics of a liana or vine. Despite the classification of its woodiness in certain datasets as non-woody, it structurally functions as a significant arboreal species within its ecosystem.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

35 m

Plant height mean:

20 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Castanospermum australe is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency within its natural habitat. Its vegetative structure features prominent foliage with substantial surface area for light interception, where individual leaves typically range in length from a minimum of 30 cm to a maximum of 60 cm. The width of these leaves is comparatively narrow, spanning from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 5 cm. Furthermore, the plant exhibits specialized metabolic capabilities through its ability to function as a nitrogen fixer, facilitating the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen to support its nutritional requirements and growth.

Leaf length max:

60 cm

Leaf length min:

30 cm

Leaf width max:

5 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Castañospermum australe is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically facilitated by birds. The plant produces fruit classified as a pod, which is notably dry in texture and exhibits dehiscence to release its contents. The seeds produced are substantial in size, with a recorded seed volume that remains consistent at a mean, minimum, and maximum of 31,000 mm³. Regarding seed mass, there is significant variability, ranging from a minimum of 7.72217 g to a maximum of 46 g, with an overall mean seed mass of 23.58297 g. Once released, the dispersal of the seeds follows a hydrochorous syndrome, utilizing water as the primary medium for movement.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit type :

pod

Pollination syndrome :

bird

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

46 g

Seed mass mean:

23.58297 g

Seed mass min:

7.72217 g

Seed volume max:

31000 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Castanospermum australe 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 seed.

Seed

1. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics

Chemicals

Castanospermum australe has 23 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include castanospermine, 1,7a-Diepialexine, 3,7a-Diepialexine, 3-epi-Australine, 6,7-Diepicastanospermine.

castanospermine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics

1,7a-Diepialexine

1. Dr. Duke

3,7a-Diepialexine

1. Dr. Duke

3-epi-Australine

1. Dr. Duke

6,7-Diepicastanospermine

1. Dr. Duke

6-Epicastanospermine

1. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics

6-epi-Castanospermine

1. Dr. Duke

7,7a-Diepialexine

1. Dr. Duke

Afrormosin

1. Dr. Duke

Australine

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Castanospermum australe has 53 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Abortifacient, Absorbent, Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker, Anorectic, AntiHIV.

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Absorbent

1. Dr. Duke

Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

Anorectic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Anticephalagic

1. Dr. Duke

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke

Antidote (Iodine)

1. Dr. Duke

Antifeedant

1. Dr. Duke

Antihypertensive

1. Dr. Duke