Brazilian diesel tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Brazilian diesel tree
• copaiba
• Langsdorf's Copaifera

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Copaiba langsdorffii

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Fabales, falling into the family Fabaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Copaifera, specifically as the species Copaifera langsdorffii.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning across several distinct regions. Within the Indian Subcontinent, its presence is noted specifically in Sri Lanka. Moving to the Americas, it can be found in Guyana located in Northern South America and in Bolivia within Western South America. Its reach extends significantly into Brazil, where it is documented in both the West-Central and Northeast regions. Consequently, the species occupies a wide range of ecological zones across multiple continents.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Copaifera langsdorffii is characterized by a broad adaptability to diverse environmental conditions, ranging from sea level up to an elevation of 500 m AMSL. This species exhibits significant ecological plasticity, occupying a wide variety of habitats including anthropized areas (Área Antrópica) and the Cerrado (latu sensu). It is frequently found within diverse forest formations, such as riparian or gallery forests (Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria), terra firme forests (Floresta de Terra Firme), semi-deciduous seasonal forests (Floresta Estacional Semidecidual), and ombrophilous or rainforest environments (Floresta Ombrófila/Pluvial).

Elevational range max:

500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta de Terra Firme, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Life history

The life history of Copaifera langsdorffii is characterized by its existence as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons within its ecosystem. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive buds are elevated well above the ground, typically manifesting as a robust tree structure. This species maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that it retains its foliage throughout the year to facilitate continuous photosynthetic activity.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Copaifera langsdorffii is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, which functions as a self-supporting structure rather than a climber or liana. It is a terrestrial species that grows independently, lacking any parasitic or epiphytic habits. The plant exhibits significant vertical development, reaching a mean height of approximately 18 meters, though it can attain a maximum height of up to 35 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

35 m

Plant height mean:

18 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Copaifera langsdorffii is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a metabolic process typical of most tropical woody species that rely on the enzyme Rubisco for carbon fixation. The plant exhibits structural efficiency through its leaf morphology, with a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 90 cm²/g, ranging from a minimum to a maximum value of 115.56 cm²/g. This SLA data suggests a specific strategy for balancing light interception and water loss management within its environment. Furthermore, the species possesses a stem specific density (SSD) with a mean value of 690 mg/cm³, reflecting the wood density and structural investment of its biomass. Regarding its nutrient acquisition, Copaifera langsdorffii is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil rather than through symbiotic nitrogen-fixing processes.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

90 cm²/g

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) min:

115.56 cm²/g

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

690 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Copaifera langsdorffii is characterized by biotic pollination mechanisms, specifically relying on insects with a strong association with bees to facilitate fertilization. The resulting seeds are highly uniform in their physical dimensions, exhibiting a consistent mean length of 14.505 mm, with no variation between the minimum and maximum recorded lengths. These seeds possess a mean volume of 390 mm³, ranging from a minimum of 370 mm³ to a maximum of 410 mm³, and maintain a highly stable mass of 0.08 g, which remains constant across the minimum, mean, and maximum measurements.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length mean:

14.505 mm

Seed mass mean:

0.08 g

Seed volume max:

410 mm³

Seed volume mean:

390 mm³

Seed volume min:

370 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Copaifera langsdorffii has 3 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, seed, stem.

Leaf

1. Journal of natural medicines
2. Natural product research
3. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Seed

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Stem

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Copaifera langsdorffii has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Kaurenoic acid, Afzelin, quercitrin, Flavonoids, ent-Kaur-16-en-19-oic acid.

Kaurenoic acid

1. Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Afzelin

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A
2. Natural product research

quercitrin

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A
2. Natural product research

Flavonoids

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

ent-Kaur-16-en-19-oic acid

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

flavonols

1. Natural product research

quercetin

1. Natural product research

Activities

Copaifera langsdorffii has 10 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Cytotoxic, Analgesic, Anticancer, Antigenotoxic.

Antioxidant

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A
2. Natural product research
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A
2. Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology
3. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Analgesic

1. BioMed research international

Anticancer

1. Journal of natural medicines

Antigenotoxic

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

Antimicrobial

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Diuretic

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Embryotoxic

1. Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology

Gastroprotective

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hypotensive

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Medicinal Uses

Copaifera langsdorffii has 7 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Alzheimer's disease, DNA damage, Dental caries, diuretic, endometriosis.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations