Burma blackwood

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Amerimnon cultratum
• Dalbergia fusca
• Dalbergia cultrata f. fusca
• Dalbergia cultrata var. maymyensis
• Dalbergia cultrata var. pallida
• Dalbergia cultrata var. tavoyensis

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Dalbergia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several distinct regions in Asia. Within China, it is specifically located in the South-Central areas. The species is also found across parts of the Indian Subcontinent, including Assam and Bangladesh. Moving into the Indo-China region, its presence extends to the countries of Cambodia and Laos. Collectively, these locations highlight the diverse tropical and subtropical habitats where the species thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Dalbergia cultrata is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. As it matures, the plant exhibits a deciduous growth habit, shedding its foliage periodically as part of its seasonal cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Dalbergia cultrata is characterized by a woody growth form, primarily manifesting as a tree. It typically attains a significant plant height, with a mean height reaching approximately 20 m. Regarding its climbing nature, the species is classified as self-supporting, rather than being an obligatory or facultative climber like a liana or vine. Furthermore, it is a terrestrial plant, lacking any epiphytic characteristics such as holoepiphytic, hemiepiphytic, or facultative epiphytic habits.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Plant height mean:

20 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Dalbergia cultrata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency within its ecological niche. The species exhibits a high stem specific density (SSD) with a mean value of 990 mg/cm³, reflecting a robust structural composition and significant biomass density in its woody tissues. Furthermore, Dalbergia cultrata functions as a nitrogen fixer, indicating a symbiotic capability to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form, which supports its nutrient requirements and contributes to the nitrogen enrichment of its surrounding environment.

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

990 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Dalbergia cultrata is characterized by specific seed morphological and dispersal properties. The species produces seeds with a highly uniform mass, as indicated by a consistent seed mass measurement where both the minimum, maximum, and mean values are recorded at 0.03215 g. In terms of its reproductive strategy, the plant utilizes an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning its seeds are primarily dispersed by the wind to colonize new areas.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Seed mass mean:

0.03215 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Dalbergia cultrata has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Lupeol.

Lupeol

1. Frontiers in plant science