Cannonball Tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Cannonball Tree
• cannonball-tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Couroupita saintcroixiana
• Couroupita acreensis
• Couroupita surinamensis
• Couroupita membranacea
• Couroupita antillana
• Couroupita froesii
• Couroupita idolica
• Couratari pedicellaris
• Lecythis bracteata
• Couroupita guianensis var. surinamensis
• Couroupita peruviana
• Couroupita venezuelensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Couroupita guianensis, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Ericales and the family Lecythidaceae. Finally, its taxonomic designation is completed within the genus Couroupita.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning multiple tropical and subtropical regions. Within the Indian Subcontinent, it can be found growing in Bangladesh. Its presence extends to the Indo-China region, specifically inhabiting the Andaman Islands and the Nicobar Islands. Additionally, the species is located in the Northwestern Pacific area, including the Marshall Islands. Finally, its range reaches the Southeastern United States, where it is documented in Florida.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Couroupita guianensis is characterized by its preference for stable, non-flooded environments, specifically inhabiting the Floresta de Terra Firme. This species thrives within a specific altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 1000 m AMSL. By occupying these terra firme forest types, the plant establishes itself in nutrient-rich, well-drained soils that are typical of lowland and sub-montane tropical forest structures.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Floresta de Terra Firme

Life history

The life history of Couroupita guianensis is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, ensuring its presence in the ecosystem over many years. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive shoots are elevated well above the ground, a life form that is consistently represented through its phanerophyte classification. The species exhibits a deciduous habit, meaning it undergoes seasonal leaf shedding as part of its biological cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Couroupita guianensis is characterized by its substantial growth form as a woody tree. It functions as a self-supporting organism, neither acting as a climber nor as a parasite, maintaining an independent biological existence. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit epiphytic behavior. The plant reaches significant dimensions, with a mean height of approximately 30 m and a maximum potential height of up to 35 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

35 m

Plant height mean:

30 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Couroupita guianensis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which involves the initial fixation of carbon dioxide through the enzyme RuBisCO to form a three-carbon compound. This metabolic process dictates its carbon assimilation efficiency and its environmental requirements for moisture and light. In terms of nutrient cycling and symbiotic relationships, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized root nodules or symbiotic associations with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, relying instead on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Couroupita guianensis is characterized by specific seed morphological traits and dispersal mechanisms. The species produces seeds with a highly consistent profile, exhibiting a seed mass that remains constant at a mean, minimum, and maximum of 0.005 g. In terms of physical dimensions, the seed volume is equally uniform, with a minimum, maximum, and mean volume of 340 mm³. Regarding the movement of its offspring, the plant utilizes a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on animals to facilitate the distribution of its seeds within its habitat.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Seed mass mean:

0.005 g

Seed volume max:

340 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Couroupita guianensis has 3 reported plant parts identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, flower, stem.

Leaf

1. Journal of biomaterials science. Polymer edition
2. Malaria journal
3. International journal of mycobacteriology
4. International journal of molecular sciences

Flower

1. Natural product research
2. The Indian journal of medical research
3. International journal of molecular sciences

Stem

1. Scientifica

Chemicals

Couroupita guianensis has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CHLOROFORM, Indirubin, SILVER NITRATE, Tryptanthrin.

CHLOROFORM

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Indirubin

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

SILVER NITRATE

1. Materials (Basel, Switzerland)

Tryptanthrin

1. Natural product research

Activities

Couroupita guianensis has 7 reported activities identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Analgesic, Anticancer, Antifungal.

Antimicrobial

1. International journal of molecular sciences
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
3. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Antioxidant

1. Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
2. International journal of molecular sciences

Analgesic

1. Natural product research

Anticancer

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Antifungal

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Antihypertensive

1. Natural product research

Antitubercular

1. International journal of mycobacteriology

Conditions

Couroupita guianensis has 14 reported investigations on conditions identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include antioxidant, malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, analgesic, antidiabetic.

Antioxidant

1. Journal of biomaterials science. Polymer edition
2. International journal of molecular sciences

Malaria

1. Malaria journal
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Plasmodium falciparum

1. Malaria journal

Analgesic

1. Natural product research

Antidiabetic

1. Journal of biomaterials science. Polymer edition

Antihypertensive

1. Natural product research

Cold

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Gastric cancer

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Hypertension

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Pain

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Preparations

Couroupita guianensis has 8 reported preparations identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include EAEs from leaves, abuul leaves extract, bark decoction, chloroform extract, ethanolic extract.

Eaes from leaves

1. Malaria journal

Abuul leaves extract

1. Journal of biomaterials science. Polymer edition

Bark decoction

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Chloroform extract

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Ethanolic extract

1. Natural product research

Plant crude extracts

1. Pharmacognosy magazine

Plant leaf extracts

1. International journal of mycobacteriology

Stem cuttings

1. Scientifica