locust bean

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Carob
• St. John's-bread
• locust-bean
• Carob Bean
• Carob Tree Bean
• Locust Bean
• Locust Tree
• St John's Bread
• carob tree
• St. John's Bread

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ceratonia siliqua var. sterilis
• Ceratonia siliqua var. vulgaris
• Ceratonia coriacea
• Ceratonia inermis
• Ceratonia siliqua var. latissima
• Ceratonia siliqua var. siccata

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 the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Ceratonia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Ceratonia siliqua, exhibits a specific geographical presence across several European regions. In Middle Europe, its distribution can be identified within Germany. Moving toward the coast, it is found throughout various parts of Southwestern Europe. This includes its presence in the Baleares and Corse islands. Additionally, the species is widely distributed across the mainland areas of France and Portugal.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Ceratonia siliqua is characterized by its ability to thrive across a broad altitudinal gradient, reflecting its adaptability to diverse Mediterranean-type landscapes. It typically populates environments ranging from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1370 m AMSL, though it most frequently occurs at a mean elevation of approximately 490 m AMSL. This wide elevational range allows the species to occupy various ecological niches, from coastal lowland habitats to more rugged, mid-altitude terrains. Its presence across these varying heights suggests a resilience to differing thermal regimes and moisture availability within its natural distribution.

Elevational range max:

1370 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

490 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Ceratonia siliqua is characterized by its classification as a perennial species, allowing it to persist and thrive through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs well above the ground, typically developing into a robust, woody tree structure that can withstand various environmental conditions. Furthermore, it exhibits evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its foliage throughout the year, providing a continuous green canopy that does not undergo a seasonal shedding process.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ceratonia siliqua is characterized by a woody growth form, functioning as a self-supporting tree that lacks any climbing or parasitic tendencies. As a terrestrial species, it is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte, existing as an independent organism within its habitat. The plant exhibits a robust structure with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of 13 meters, maintaining a sturdy, woody constitution throughout its development.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

13 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ceratonia siliqua is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. Its foliar morphology is defined by obovate leaf forms, with dimensions that vary significantly to optimize light interception and gas exchange. Specifically, the leaves exhibit a length ranging from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 15 cm, while the width varies between 3 cm and 4.5 cm. Furthermore, the plant demonstrates a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 39.61 cm²/g, a physiological metric that reflects its leaf mass per unit area and plays a crucial role in its resource-use efficiency and adaptation to its ecological niche.

Leaf form :

obovate

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf width max:

4.5 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

39.61 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ceratonia siliqua is characterized by a dioecious sexual reproduction system, meaning individual plants are either male or female. The flowering process typically begins in September and concludes in February, producing inconspicuous green flowers. Following pollination, the plant develops a dry fruit type classified as a pod, which matures into a brown color. These pods reach dimensions of up to 15 cm in length and between 2.3 and 2.5 cm in width. Within these pods, the seeds possess a mean mass of approximately 0.178 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.159 g to a maximum of 0.212 g) and a consistent volume of 220 mm³. The dispersal of the species follows a zoochorous syndrome, specifically endozoochorous, where seeds are dispersed via the digestive tracts of animals.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flower colour :

green

Flowering time :

Sep

Flowering time :

Feb

Fruit colour :

brown

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

15 cm

Fruit type :

pod

Fruit width max:

2.5 cm

Fruit width min:

2.3 cm

Reproduction sexual :

dioecious

Seed mass max:

0.21195 g

Seed mass mean:

0.17817875 g

Seed mass min:

0.15918 g

Seed volume max:

220 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Ceratonia siliqua 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 leaf.

Leaf

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Chemicals

Ceratonia siliqua has 121 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, polyphenols, Gallic acid, Tannins, quercetin.

Flavonoids

1. Scientific reports
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Food chemistry
4. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
5. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine

polyphenols

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of molecular neuroscience : MN
3. Reviews on recent clinical trials
4. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
5. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Gallic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Food science and biotechnology
4. Life (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Tannins

1. Food chemistry
2. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine
3. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS
4. Fitoterapia

quercetin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Life (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Galactomannan

1. Dr. Duke
2. Carbohydrate research

Locust bean gum

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
2. Life (Basel, Switzerland)

Myricitrin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Sugars

1. Dr. Duke
2. Reviews on recent clinical trials

sucrose

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food science and biotechnology

Activities

Ceratonia siliqua has 452 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, Antibacterial, Antimicrobial, Analgesic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of molecular neuroscience : MN
3. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
4. Nutrients
5. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine
3. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS
4. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine
3. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Antimicrobial

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
2. Life (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of burn care & research : official publication of the American Burn Association

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke
2. PLoS neglected tropical diseases

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Nutrients

Antidepressant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antihyperglycemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antihypertensive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Medicinal Uses

Ceratonia siliqua has 29 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antidiabetic, diarrhea, male infertility, Candida albicans, DNA damage.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations