Guar

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• cluster-bean
• Calcutta-lucerne
• Siam-bean
• guar-bean

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cordaea fabiformis
• Dolichos psoraloides
• Dolichos fabiformis
• Psoralea tetragonoloba
• Trigonella tetrapetala
• Cyamopsis psoraloides

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae and the genus Cyamopsis. Specifically, it is identified by the species name Cyamopsis tetragonoloba.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several key regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is documented in both Mali and Sierra Leone. Moving eastward, it can also be found within West-Central Tropical Africa, specifically in Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Additionally, the species extends into Northeast Tropical Africa, where it is recorded in Chad. Together, these locations highlight a wide range spanning from the Atlantic coast to the central and northeastern interior.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba is characterized by a lifecycle that functions as an annual, completing its biological development within a single growing season. In terms of its structural growth habit and ecological classification, the species is identified as a therophyte, meaning it completes its life cycle through the production of seeds that remain dormant until favorable conditions arise. This life form is further categorized under the classification of a therophyte, reflecting its strategy of surviving unfavorable periods in a seed state rather than maintaining persistent vegetative structures above ground.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba is characterized by its herbaceous growth form, appearing as a non-woody herb that maintains a self-supporting structure without the need for climbing. This plant reaches an average height of approximately 1.46 meters and is strictly terrestrial in its habitat, neither functioning as an aquatic nor a semiaquatic species, nor acting as an epiphyte. Furthermore, it is an independent organism, exhibiting no parasitic tendencies throughout its life cycle.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

1.4572055595 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba is characterized by a metabolic framework utilizing a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and gas exchange mechanisms. In terms of nutrient cycling and soil interaction, this species functions as a nitrogen fixer, possessing the biological capacity to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form to support its developmental requirements.

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba is characterized by the production of specialized seeds that exhibit specific variations in physical weight. The seed mass within this species shows a measurable range, with a calculated mean seed mass of 0.035782353 g. Throughout the reproductive cycle, the individual seeds vary in size, reaching a maximum recorded mass of 0.0434 g and a minimum recorded mass of 0.029 g. These quantitative metrics regarding seed mass are essential indicators of the plant's reproductive investment and the potential dispersal capabilities of its progeny.

Seed mass max:

0.0434 g

Seed mass mean:

0.035782353 g

Seed mass min:

0.029 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Cyamopsis tetragonoloba has 52 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Ash, GUAR GUM, MG, na, 2,3,4-Trihydroxy-benzoic acid.

Ash

1. Dr. Duke
2. Die Nahrung

GUAR GUM

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
2. The American journal of clinical nutrition

MG

1. Scientific reports
2. Die Nahrung

na

1. Scientific reports
2. Die Nahrung

2,3,4-Trihydroxy-benzoic acid

1. Dr. Duke

3-Epikatonic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Astragalin

1. Dr. Duke

CA

1. Scientific reports

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Cyamopsis tetragonoloba has 402 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor, ACE-Inhibitor, ATPase-Inhibitor.

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Cyamopsis tetragonoloba has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cholesterol, drought, water stress.

Cholesterol

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Drought

1. Scientific reports

Water stress

1. Scientific reports

Preparations

Cyamopsis tetragonoloba has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include dried and grounded.

Dried and grounded

1. Water environment research : a research publication of the Water Environment Federation