Handroanthus heptaphyllus

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Tabebuia impetiginosa var. lepidota
• Handroanthus eximius
• Tabebuia avellanedae var. paulensis
• Handroanthus impetiginosus var. lepidotus
• Handroanthus avellanedae var. paullensis
• Tabebuia eximia
• Tecoma curialis
• Tabebuia heptaphylla
• Tabebuia ipe
• Tecoma ipe f. grandiflora
• Tecoma ipe var. desinens
• Tecoma impetiginosa var. lepidota
• Tecoma ipe f. parviflora
• Tecoma ipe f. lepidota
• Tecoma ipe f. glabra
• Tecoma eximia
• Tecoma ipe
• Bignonia heptaphylla

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Handroanthus heptaphyllus, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Lamiales. Finally, it is a member of the family Bignoniaceae and falls under the genus Handroanthus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several key regions of South America. In the western portion of the continent, its presence is documented within the borders of Bolivia. Moving into Brazil, the species is widely spread across multiple distinct climatic zones. It can be found inhabiting the West-Central and Northeast regions of the country. Furthermore, its range extends into both the Southeast and the Southern territories of Brazil.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Handroanthus heptaphyllus is characterized by its presence in specific forest biomes, primarily thriving within the Floresta Estacional Semidecidual and the Floresta Ombrófila (also known as Floresta Pluvial). This species occupies a diverse altitudinal gradient, establishing itself across a broad elevational range that begins at 100 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 800 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

100 m AMSL

Habitat :

Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Life history

The life history of Handroanthus heptaphyllus is characterized by its nature as a perennial species, ensuring its long-term presence within its ecological niche. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs at a significant height above the ground, typically developing into a robust woody structure. Its physiological cycle is marked by being deciduous, meaning it undergoes a seasonal shedding of its foliage, a process often synchronized with specific climatic shifts. This combination of a long-lived perennial lifecycle, a phanerophyte growth habit, and deciduous leaf behavior dictates its rhythmic patterns of growth, dormancy, and resource management throughout the year.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Handroanthus heptaphyllus is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree, reaching a mean height of approximately 20 m and a maximum height of up to 30 m. As a terrestrial species, it grows independently in its environment without functioning as a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant exhibits a self-supporting structure, maintaining its upright stature without the need for climbing mechanisms such as vines or lianas.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

30 m

Plant height mean:

20 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Handroanthus heptaphyllus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating its reliance on the standard Calvin cycle for carbon fixation. In terms of structural morphology and resource allocation, the plant exhibits a consistent stem specific density (SSD) of 730 mg/cm³, with the minimum, mean, and maximum values all aligning at this specific measurement. Leaf architecture is defined by a Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 199.21 cm²/g, a value that remains uniform across its minimum, mean, and maximum recorded parameters. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic biological mechanisms required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms for its own growth.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) min:

199.21 cm²/g

Stem specific density (SSD) min:

730 mg/cm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Handroanthus heptaphyllus has 33 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include lapachol, ALUMINUM, Ash, BETA-SITOSTEROL, CALCIUM.

lapachol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

ALUMINUM

1. Dr. Duke

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

CHROMIUM

1. Dr. Duke

CHRYSOPHANIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke

COBALT

1. Dr. Duke

Cycloolivil

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Dehydro-alpha-lapachone

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Handroanthus heptaphyllus has 353 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include ACE-Inhibitor, AP-1-Inhibitor, Abortifacient, Acidulant, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor.

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AP-1-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Amphiglycemic?

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic

1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic?

1. Dr. Duke