Guayacan

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Guayacan

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Tabebuia guayacan
• Tecoma guayacan

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Handroanthus guaianensis, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Lamiales and the family Bignoniaceae. Its taxonomic hierarchy concludes with the genus Handroanthus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution that spans several distinct regions across North and Central America. In Mexico, it can be found across the Gulf coast, the Southwest, and the Southeast regions. Moving southward, its range extends into the territory of Belize within Central America. Furthermore, the species is also documented to grow in Costa Rica. Together, these locations highlight the diverse environments where the plant thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Handroanthus guayacan is characterized by its preference for forest habitats, where it plays a vital role in the local ecosystem. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, thriving across a wide elevational range that extends from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum of 1000 m AMSL. Within these forested environments, the plant adapts to varying topographical conditions, contributing to the structural complexity and biodiversity of its native range.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest

Life history

The life history of Handroanthus guayacan is characterized by its classification as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over many years. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs at a significant height above the ground, typically developing into a robust tree structure. Its physiological cycle includes a deciduous nature, meaning it undergoes a seasonal shedding of its leaves, a strategy often employed to manage moisture levels or respond to specific environmental cues. This combination of a long-lived perennial lifecycle, a phanerophyte life form, and deciduousness defines its developmental strategy and survival mechanisms within its natural habitat.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Handroanthus guayacan is characterized by its robust growth form, primarily functioning as a large, woody tree. This species exhibits a significant stature, with an average plant height of approximately 40 m and a maximum potential height reaching up to 37 m. As a terrestrial plant, it does not inhabit aquatic or semiaquatic environments, nor does it exhibit epiphytic tendencies, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. The plant is non-parasitic and functions as an independent organism, lacking any obligatory or facultative parasitic relationships. Structurally, it is a self-supporting species, meaning it does not utilize climbing mechanisms such as vines or lianas to ascend, instead relying on its own woody framework to maintain its vertical development.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

37 m

Plant height mean:

40 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Handroanthus guayacan is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. In terms of leaf structural composition, the plant exhibits a highly consistent Leaf Dry Matter Content (LDMC) with a mean, minimum, and maximum value of 366.9 mg/g, indicating a stable investment of biomass within its foliar tissues. Furthermore, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil-available nitrogen rather than symbiotic atmospheric nitrogen fixation to support its nutritional requirements.

Leaf dry matter content (LDMC) mean:

366.9 mg/g

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Handroanthus guayacan is characterized by specific seed morphological traits and a diverse dispersal strategy. The seeds produced by this species exhibit a relatively consistent mass, with a calculated mean seed mass of approximately 0.032283333 g. Within the population, individual seed weights vary, ranging from a minimum of 0.02 g to a maximum of 0.0394 g. Regarding the movement of these seeds away from the parent plant, the species utilizes an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on wind to transport its seeds to new locations.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Seed mass max:

0.0394 g

Seed mass mean:

0.032283333 g

Seed mass min:

0.02 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Handroanthus guayacan has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Corosolic acid.

Corosolic acid

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)