palo azul

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Kidneywood
• Mexican Kidneywood

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Amerimnon polystachyon
• Varennea polystachya
• Dalea fruticosa
• Dalbergia amorphoides
• Psoralea stipularis
• Viborquia polystachya
• Wiborgia amorphoides
• Eysenhardtia amorphoides

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known as Eysenhardtia polystachya, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae, falling within the order Fabales. Ultimately, it is a member of the family Fabaceae and the genus Eysenhardtia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across various regions of Mexico. It can be found throughout the central parts of the country, specifically within Mexico Central. Additionally, its presence extends into the northeastern territories of Mexico Northeast. The species also inhabits the coastal and inland areas of Mexico Gulf. Finally, its range reaches into the diverse landscapes of both Mexico Northwest and Mexico Southwest.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Morphology

The morphology of Eysenhardtia polystachya is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree, reaching a significant mean plant height of approximately 7.01 meters. This species is a terrestrial plant, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of its structural habit, it is classified as a self-supporting plant, exhibiting a solid woody composition that supports its stature within its natural habitat.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

7.01 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Erysinaerdtia polyschachya is fundamentally characterized by its utilization of the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a process wherein carbon dioxide is fixed directly into a three-carbon compound during the initial stages of the Calvin cycle. This metabolic approach relies on the enzyme RuBisCO to catalyze the carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate, making the plant's energy production highly dependent on environmental factors such as light intensity, temperature, and moisture availability. Because it lacks the specialized anatomy of C4 plants or the temporal separation of CAM species, its physiological efficiency is closely tied to the maintenance of high internal CO2 concentrations and the management of photorespiration under stressful conditions. This C3 mechanism dictates the plant's water-use efficiency and its overall carbon assimilation rate, shaping its adaptive strategies within its specific ecological niche.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Eysenaerdtia polyschachya is characterized by specific seed morphological traits and a specialized dispersal strategy. The plant produces seeds with a highly variable mass, ranging from a minimum of 0.00522 g to a maximum of 0.01157 g, with an overall mean seed mass calculated at approximately 0.0087283335 g. In terms of its reproductive dispersal mechanism, the species exhibits an anemochorous syndrome, indicating that its seeds are primarily dispersed by wind, which facilitates the spread of the progeny across its natural habitat.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Seed mass max:

0.01157 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0087283335 g

Seed mass min:

0.00522 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Eysenhardtia polystachya has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids.

Flavonoids

1. Organic letters

Activities

Eysenhardtia polystachya has 3 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic, Antimicrobial, Antinociceptive.

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of natural products
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antimicrobial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antinociceptive

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Eysenhardtia polystachya has 7 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Porphyromonas gingivalis, Streptococcus mutans, cancer, diarrhea, infections.

Porphyromonas gingivalis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Streptococcus mutans

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cancer

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Diarrhea

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Infections

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Inflammation

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Pain

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Eysenhardtia polystachya has 4 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include bark, trunks, water extracts, water/etanol (1:1) extracts.

Bark

1. Journal of natural products

Trunks

1. Journal of natural products

Water extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Water/etanol (1:1) extracts

1. Journal of separation science