Mangaba

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Hancornia speciosa, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae, falling within the order Gentianales. Finally, it is a member of the Apocynaceae family and is identified by the genus Hancornia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is distributed across several key regions within Western South America. Specifically, it can be found growing in the territories of both Bolivia and Peru. Its range also extends significantly into the country of Brazil. Within Brazil, it is located in the West-Central, Northeast, and Southeast regions. Together, these locations define the diverse geographical footprint of Harcornia speciosa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Hancornia speciosa is characterized by its adaptability to diverse and varied landscapes, ranging from sea level up to an elevation of 1000 m AMSL. This species thrives within several distinct ecosystems, specifically occupying the habitats of Campo Rupestre, Cerrado (latu sensu), and Savana Amazônica. Its presence across these different biomes indicates a capacity to survive in environments with varying soil compositions and moisture levels, from the rocky outcrops of rupestrian fields to the more open, woody formations of the Brazilian savanna and Amazonian savannas.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Campo Rupestre, Cerrado (lato sensu), Savana Amazônica

Life history

The life history of Hancornia speciosa is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its stem system above the ground, though it also exhibits traits consistent with a nanophanerophyte, indicating relatively short woody stems. The plant follows a deciduous growth pattern, shedding its foliage periodically as part of its seasonal biological cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Hancornia speciosa is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, which reaches a mean height of approximately 7 meters, though it can attain a maximum height of up to 10 meters. This species is a terrestrial plant, rather than aquatic or semi-aquatic, and it functions as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies. In terms of its structural habit, it is classified as a self-supporting plant, meaning it does not require climbing mechanisms such as vines or lianas to maintain its upright posture. Furthermore, it is strictly a terrestrial species and does not exhibit epiphytic behavior, such as being a holoepiphyte or hemiepiphyte.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

10 m

Plant height mean:

7 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Hancornia speciosa is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation process through the direct carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate by the enzyme RuBisCO. This metabolic strategy involves the standard Calvin cycle occurring within the mesophyll cells, making the plant's energy production highly dependent on ambient CO2 concentrations and temperature regulation. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationships with diazotrophic bacteria or the specialized root nodules required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into biologically available forms, relying instead on the uptake of nitrates or ammonium from the surrounding soil substrate.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Hancornia speciosa is characterized by the production of seeds that exhibit specific morphological and mass variations. The seeds produced by this species possess a mean mass of 0.33 g, though they can range from a minimum of 0.2 g to a maximum of 0.46 g. In terms of physical dimensions, the seed volume is highly consistent, maintaining a uniform volume of 810 mm³, which serves as both the minimum, maximum, and mean value for the species. These seeds are contained within fruits characterized by a dry texture, distinguishing them from fleshy varieties.

Fruit dryness :

dry

Seed mass max:

0.46 g

Seed mass mean:

0.33 g

Seed mass min:

0.2 g

Seed volume max:

810 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Hancornia speciosa has 1 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Chemicals

Hancornia speciosa has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Carotenoids, Cornoside, Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, Terpenes, bornesitol.

Carotenoids

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

Cornoside

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

Terpenes

1. Protoplasma

bornesitol

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

myo-inositol

1. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

polyphenols

1. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

Activities

Hancornia speciosa has 6 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antihyperglycemic, Antihypertensive, Antimutagenic, Antiobesity, Antioxidant.

Antihyperglycemic

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

Antihypertensive

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antimutagenic

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

Antiobesity

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

Antioxidant

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

Gastroprotective

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Hancornia speciosa has 9 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antihypertensive, antihyperglycemic, gastritis, gastrointestinal disorders, inflammation.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations