mountain laurel

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Texas-mountain-laurel
• mescal-bean
• Texas mountain laurel
• Texas mountain-laurel
• mescalbean
• Texas Mescalbean

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Sophora secundiflora
• Sophora speciosa
• Agastianis secundiflora
• Calia secundiflora
• Cladrastis secundiflora
• Sophora secundiflora f. xanthosperma
• Dermatophyllum speciosum
• Calia secundiflora subsp. albofoliolata
• Calia erythrosperma
• Sophora sempervirens
• Virgilia secundiflora
• Calia secundiflora f. xanthosperma
• Broussonetia secundiflora

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 the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is further organized into the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is established within the genus Dermatophyllum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad and diverse geographical distribution spanning multiple continents. In East Tropical Africa, it can be found specifically within the borders of Kenya. Its range extends to the Indian Subcontinent, where it is documented in both India and Pakistan. Moving to North America, the species is located within the South-Central United States. Specifically, its presence in this region includes the states of New Mexico and Texas.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Dermatophyllum secundiflorum is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. As a perennial species, it does not complete its reproductive cycle in a single year but instead maintains vegetative structures that support long-term survival and repeated reproductive efforts. This enduring growth habit enables the plant to establish a stable presence within its ecological niche, potentially undergoing seasonal variations in vigor while maintaining its fundamental biological continuity through successive years.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Dermatophyllum secundiflorum is characterized by a woody growth form that can manifest as either a tree or a shrub. As a terrestrial species, it maintains an independent lifestyle, functioning as a non-parasitic organism rather than an obligate or facultative parasite, and it does not exhibit epiphytic behavior. In terms of structural development, the plant is described as self-supporting, lacking the climbing mechanisms associated with lianas or vines. It reaches a significant stature with a mean plant height of approximately 7.785 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

7.785 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Dermatophyllum secundiflorum is characterized by its utilization of the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a mechanism in which carbon dioxide is fixed directly into a three-carbon compound during the initial stages of the Calvin cycle. This metabolic process involves the enzyme Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) facilitating the carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate. Unlike C4 or CAM plants, this species does not employ specialized Kranz anatomy or nocturnal acid metabolism to concentrate CO2; instead, it performs all photosynthetic stages within the mesophyll cells. Consequently, its physiological efficiency and water-use patterns are inherently tied to the ambient concentrations of CO2 and transpiration rates, as the plant relies on the standard C3 cycle to drive the synthesis of organic compounds necessary for its growth and secondary metabolite production.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Dermatophyllum secundiflorum is characterized by a diverse range of seed properties and specific dispersal mechanisms. The plant produces seeds with significant variability in mass, ranging from a minimum of 0.541 g to a maximum of 3.00672 g, with an overall mean seed mass of 0.905938 g. Regarding its dispersal strategy, the species exhibits an autochorous syndrome, indicating that it utilizes self-dispersal mechanisms to spread its progeny.

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Seed mass max:

3.00672 g

Seed mass mean:

0.905938 g

Seed mass min:

0.541 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Dermatophyllum secundiflorum has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed.

Seed

1. Lloydia

Chemicals

Dermatophyllum secundiflorum has 15 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CYTISINE, Sparteine, 5,6-Dehydrolupanine, ANAGYRINE, Ash.

CYTISINE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Lloydia
3. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Sparteine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

5,6-Dehydrolupanine

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

ANAGYRINE

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

Epi-Lupinine

1. Lloydia

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

Lupanine

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Lupinine

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Activities

Dermatophyllum secundiflorum has 67 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Abortifacient, Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker, AntiPMS, Antiallergic, Antianxiety.

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

AntiPMS

1. Dr. Duke

Antiallergic

1. Dr. Duke

Antianxiety

1. Dr. Duke

Antiarrhythmic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiarthritic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiatherosclerotic

1. Dr. Duke

Anticlimacteric

1. Dr. Duke

Antidepressant

1. Dr. Duke

Preparations

Dermatophyllum secundiflorum has 3 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include crude extract, extract of seeds, organic extract.

Crude extract

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Extract of seeds

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Organic extract

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences