Ebony Blackbead

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Ebony Blackbead
• Texas Ebony
• Texas-ebony
• pithecellobium flexicaule

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Zygia flexicaulis
• Pithecellobium flexicaule
• Pithecellobium ebano
• Samanea flexicaulis
• Siderocarpos flexicaulis
• Chloroleucon ebano
• Hoopesia arborea
• Acacia flexicaulis
• Pithecellobium texense
• Mimosa ebano
• Ebenopsis flexicaulis

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 within the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Fabales, placing it in the family Fabaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by its membership in the genus Ebenopsis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread presence across specific regions of North America. In the South-Central United States, its distribution is notably centered within the state of Texas. Moving into Mexico, the species can be found spanning several distinct territories. It is established throughout the Northeast, Gulf, and Northwest regions of the country. Furthermore, the plant extends its range into the Southwest portion of Mexico.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Ebenopsis ebano is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a long-term presence in its habitat. Throughout its developmental stages, the plant maintains an evergreen nature, ensuring that it retains its foliage year-round rather than undergoing a seasonal shedding period. This combination of a long-lived life cycle and constant leaf retention supports its continuous physiological activity and structural stability within its ecosystem.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ebenopsis ebano is characterized by a robust, woody structure that primarily manifests as a tree, though it can also exhibit shrub-like growth forms. It is a terrestrial species, growing directly in the soil rather than as an epiphyte. The plant typically reaches a mean height of approximately 7.57 meters, developing a sturdy, self-supporting architecture that does not require climbing assistance.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Plant height mean:

7.57 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ebenopsis ebano is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency under typical environmental conditions. In terms of nutrient cycling and symbiotic interactions, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized physiological mechanisms required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable biological form through symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ebenopsis ebano is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily facilitated by insects, with a specific reliance on bees for successful fertilization. The seeds produced through this process exhibit a relatively consistent mass, with values ranging from a minimum of 0.56699 g to a maximum of 0.6667 g, resulting in a mean seed mass of approximately 0.6044445 g. Once the seeds have matured, the plant employs an autochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning the seeds are dispersed through self-release mechanisms rather than relying on external vectors like wind or animals.

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.6667 g

Seed mass mean:

0.6044445 g

Seed mass min:

0.56699 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Ebenopsis ebano has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include TDF, Tannin.

TDF

1. Archivos latinoamericanos de nutricion

Tannin

1. Archivos latinoamericanos de nutricion