Dalbergia retusa

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Machaerium retusum
• Amerimnon retusum

Regional and Traditional Names

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 falls under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Dalbergia, where it is known as Dalbergia retusa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated within the tropical regions of North and Central America. In Mexico, its presence is primarily documented throughout the southeastern portion of the country. Moving into Central America, the species can be found inhabiting the landscapes of Guatemala and El Salvador. It is also widely distributed across the southern reaches of the region, specifically within Honduras. Finally, its range extends further south to include the coastal and inland areas of Costa Rica.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Dalbergia retusa is characterized by its adaptation to low-to-mid altitude tropical environments, typically flourishing within a specific elevational range that extends from 0 m AMSL to a maximum of 1000 m AMSL. It thrives in moist, tropical lowland forests and seasonal dry forests, where it plays a structural role in the canopy and sub-canopy layers. The species is highly dependent on stable tropical climates with sufficient rainfall to support its growth cycles, often occupying niches within diverse ecosystems such as rainforests or deciduous forests depending on the localized moisture availability. Its distribution is closely tied to these altitudinal gradients, making it a key component of the floristic composition in the humid and semi-humid zones of its native tropical habitats.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Dalbergia retusa is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to establish a long-term presence within its natural ecosystem. As a deciduous plant, it undergoes seasonal cycles where it sheds its foliage, a biological strategy often linked to managing water resources and responding to environmental shifts. This lifecycle enables the plant to persist through various seasonal transitions, maintaining a stable ecological role over many years.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Dalbergia retusa is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically manifesting as a self-supporting tree. It reaches a significant stature with a mean plant height of approximately 17.5 m. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic lifestyles, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or a hemi-epiphyte. The plant's structural habit is strictly self-supporting, lacking the characteristics of a climber, liana, or vine.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

17.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Dalbergia retusa is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic strategy among woody tropical species that involves the direct fixation of carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle. Furthermore, this species functions as a nitrogen fixer, possessing the biological capability to facilitate the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, likely through symbiotic relationships with rhizobia in its root systems.

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Dalbergia retusa is characterized by the production of seeds that exhibit specific morphological weight parameters essential for its dispersal and germination processes. The seed mass within this species shows a relatively tight distribution, with a calculated mean seed mass of 0.1255 g. Detailed measurements of individual seeds reveal a narrow range of variation, where the minimum recorded seed mass is 0.121 g and the maximum recorded seed mass reaches 0.13 g. These metrics indicate a highly consistent reproductive output regarding the physical scale of the seeds produced by the plant.

Seed mass max:

0.13 g

Seed mass mean:

0.1255 g

Seed mass min:

0.121 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

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

Linalool

1. Endocrine, metabolic & immune disorders drug targets

Activities

Dalbergia retusa has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antiviral.

Antibacterial

1. Endocrine, metabolic & immune disorders drug targets

Antiviral

1. Endocrine, metabolic & immune disorders drug targets

Medicinal Uses

Dalbergia retusa has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include breast cancer, colon cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer.

Most Reported Uses