Dalbergia frutescens

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Dalbergia variabilis var. tomentosa
• Dalbergia variabilis var. bahiensis
• Pterocarpus frutescens
• Trioptolemea pubescens
• Trioptolemea latifolia
• Trioptolemea glabra
• Trioptolemea ovata
• Trioptolemea platycarpa
• Trioptolemea montana
• Amerimnon frutescens
• Semeionotis floribunda
• Dalbergia frutescens var. tomentosa
• Dalbergia variabilis
• Dalbergia variabilis var. intermedia
• Trioptolemea pauciflora

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. Finally, it is identified by the genus Dalbergia, specifically as the species Dalbergia frutescens.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is distributed across several distinct regions of the South American continent. In Northern South America, it can be found growing within the borders of Venezuela. Its presence extends into Western South America, specifically spanning across Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia. Additionally, the species occupies territories within the West-Central portion of Brazil. Together, these locations define the diverse geographical range of Dalbergia frutescens.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Dalbergia frutescens is characterized by its ability to thrive across a diverse range of altitudinal gradients, spanning from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 1500 m AMSL. This species demonstrates significant ecological plasticity by inhabiting varied and distinct environmental settings, including the specialized rocky fields known as Campo Rupestre, as well as riparian ecosystems such as Floresta Ciliar or Galeria. Furthermore, it is integrated into broader forest structures, ranging from the seasonally dry environments of the Floresta Estacional Semi-decidual to the more consistently moist and humid habitats of the Floresta Ombrófila (also referred to as Floresta Pluvial).

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Campo Rupestre, Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Life history

The life history of Dalbergia frutescens is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over many years rather than completing its cycle in a single season. As a long-lived woody plant, it undergoes a gradual developmental process that transitions from seedling establishment to a robust, mature stage capable of sustained growth and seasonal reproduction. Its perennial nature ensures that it can withstand varying environmental conditions through multiple years, maintaining its structural presence in its native habitat through successive growth cycles.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Dalbergia frutescens is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically developing as a tree. It is a terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor as an epiphyte. In terms of its physical structure and scale, the plant reaches a maximum height of approximately 10 meters. Unlike climbing species such as lianas or vines, it is a self-supporting woody plant rather than an obligatory or facultative climber.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Dalbergia frutescens is fundamentally characterized by its metabolic efficiency and carbon fixation mechanisms, most notably its utilization of the C3 photosynthetic pathway. As a C3 plant, it undergoes the Calvin cycle where carbon dioxide is fixed directly by the enzyme RuBisCO into a three-carbon compound, a process that is highly efficient under temperate to moderate environmental conditions but remains sensitive to photorespiration during periods of high temperature or water stress. This metabolic framework supports the plant's structural development and the synthesis of secondary metabolites, which are vital to its biological functions. Furthermore, its physiological processes include complex water regulation and nutrient uptake mechanisms that allow it to maintain cellular homeostasis and drive the biochemical pathways necessary for growth and reproduction within its natural habitat.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

Reproduction in Dalbergia frutescens is characterized by the production of specialized seeds that play a critical role in its propagation and survival within its ecosystem. The seeds of this species exhibit a highly consistent physical profile, with no observed variation in weight across documented samples. Specifically, the seed mass is uniform, maintaining a mean value of 0.16275 g. This consistency is reflected in the extreme values of the seed's mass, where both the maximum and minimum recorded weights are exactly 0.16275 g. This lack of variance in seed mass suggests a highly stabilized reproductive strategy, ensuring that each individual seed carries a standardized amount of nutrient reserves for early seedling development.

Seed mass mean:

0.16275 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Dalbergia frutescens has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Castanin, Cuneatin, Odoratin, formononetin, fujikinetin.

Castanin

1. Journal of natural products

Cuneatin

1. Journal of natural products

Odoratin

1. Journal of natural products

formononetin

1. Journal of natural products

fujikinetin

1. Journal of natural products

pseudobaptogenin

1. Journal of natural products

Conditions

Dalbergia frutescens has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Giardia intestinalis.

Giardia intestinalis

1. Journal of natural products

Preparations

Dalbergia frutescens has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Dalbergia frutescens bark.

Dalbergia frutescens bark

1. Journal of natural products