cumaru

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• tonka
• Dutch tonka-bean
• tonga-bean
• tonka-bean

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Coumarouna tetraphylla
• Coumarouna odorata
• Heinzia peregrina
• Baryosma tongo
• Coumarouna odorata var. tetraphylla
• Dipteryx tetraphylla

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 Dipteryx, specifically as the species Dipteryx odorata.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Dipteryx odorata, exhibits a specific geographical range across several distinct regions. In Northern South America, it is widely distributed throughout Venezuela, Guyana, and Suriname. Its presence extends further south into the territory of French Guiana. Interestingly, its documented range also reaches as far as the Southwestern Pacific in Nauru. This diverse distribution highlights the plant's ability to exist across vastly different ecological zones.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Dipteryx odorata is defined by its presence in diverse forest ecosystems, specifically occurring within Terra Firme forests, Seasonal Semi-deciduous forests, and Ombrophilous (pluvial) forests. This species thrives in these varied tropical environments, adapting to different moisture regimes and canopy structures. Its distribution is further characterized by its positioning within a specific altitudinal niche, with an average elevational range centered around 240 m AMSL.

Elevational range mean:

240 m AMSL

Habitat :

Floresta de Terra Firme, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Life history

The life history of Dipteryx odorata is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to maintain a long-term presence within its native ecosystem. As it matures, the plant exhibits an evergreen habit, retaining its foliage throughout the year rather than shedding it seasonally. This combination of a long-lived lifecycle and continuous leaf cover enables the species to establish a stable and enduring structural component of its habitat.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Dipteryx odorata is characterized by its robust growth form as a large, woody tree. This species is a self-supporting organism that does not function as a climber or a liana, nor does it exhibit any parasitic behavior, maintaining an independent life cycle. As a strictly terrestrial plant, it does not possess aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic tendencies. The tree reaches significant dimensions in the forest canopy, with a mean height of approximately 30 m and the potential to reach a maximum height of up to 50 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

50 m

Plant height mean:

30 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Dipteryx odorata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency within its native environment. The species exhibits high structural density, evidenced by a mean stem specific density (SSD) of 1000 mg/cm³, reflecting a robust investment in woody biomass. Leaf morphology is relatively conservative, with a mean specific leaf area (SLA) of 86 cm²/g, suggesting a leaf structure optimized for durability and resource management rather than rapid expansion. Furthermore, the plant functions as a nitrogen fixer, utilizing symbiotic relationships to enhance nutrient availability, which significantly contributes to its physiological fitness and growth potential in nutrient-limited soils.

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

86 cm²/g

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

1000 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Dipteryx odorata is characterized by specific seed morphologies and dispersal mechanisms that facilitate its propagation. The seeds produced by this species exhibit a consistent seed volume, measured at a mean, minimum, and maximum of 7500 mm³, indicating a highly uniform size distribution. In terms of mass, the seeds vary from a minimum of 5.16 g to a maximum of 6.96 g, with an average seed mass of 6.06 g. The dispersal syndrome of the plant is primarily zoochorous, meaning it relies on animals for seed distribution, although its reproductive strategy can also encompass anemochorous, autochorous, hydrochorous, and unspecialized methods depending on environmental conditions.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Seed mass max:

6.96 g

Seed mass mean:

6.06 g

Seed mass min:

5.16 g

Seed volume max:

7500 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Dipteryx odorata has 39 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include coumarin, o-Coumaric acid, 3'-Hydroxy-8-O-methylretusin, 3'-Hydroxyretusin 8- methyl ether, 5-HYDROXYMETHYLFURFURAL.

coumarin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Progress in the chemistry of organic natural products
3. Journal of natural products
4. Zeitschrift fur Lebensmittel-Untersuchung und -Forschung

o-Coumaric acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zeitschrift fur Lebensmittel-Untersuchung und -Forschung

3'-Hydroxy-8-O-methylretusin

1. Dr. Duke

3'-Hydroxyretusin 8- methyl ether

1. Dr. Duke

5-HYDROXYMETHYLFURFURAL

1. Zeitschrift fur Lebensmittel-Untersuchung und -Forschung

7,8-dihydroxy-4'-methoxy isoflavone

1. Dr. Duke

8-O-methylretusin

1. Dr. Duke

Betulin

1. Dr. Duke

Dipteryxin

1. Dr. Duke

Dipteryxine

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Dipteryx odorata has 188 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor, Allelochemic, Allelopathic, Allergenic.

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Allelopathic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Anemiagenic

1. Dr. Duke

Anesthetic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiEBV

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Dipteryx odorata has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, aflatoxin B1, cancer.

Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus

1. Journal of natural products

Aflatoxin b1

1. Journal of food protection

Cancer

1. Journal of natural products