Hymenaea martiana

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cynometra martiana
• Trachylobium martianum
• Hymenaea microphylla
• Hymenaea sellowiana

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is specifically identified by the genus Hymenaea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across various regions of Western South America. Specifically, it can be found growing within the borders of Bolivia and Colombia. Its presence extends significantly into Brazil, spanning several distinct geographic zones. Within Brazil, it inhabits the West-Central, Northeast, and Southeast territories. Consequently, the species maintains a broad ecological footprint across these diverse South American landscapes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Hymenaea martiana is characterized by its adaptability to diverse environmental conditions and varying topographical landscapes. This species thrives across a wide range of habitats, including anthropized areas (Área Antrópica), the Cerrado (latu sensu) biome, and Ombrophilous Forests (also known as Rain Forests/Floresta Pluvial). Its distribution in terms of altitude is broad, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 500 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range of approximately 250 m AMSL. This ability to inhabit both open savanna-like ecosystems and dense, humid forest environments suggests a high degree of ecological plasticity.

Elevational range max:

500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

250 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Life history

The life history of Hymenaea martiana is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a long-term presence within its ecosystem. Throughout its lifespan, the plant maintains an evergreen habit, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and intact year-round rather than shedding seasonally. This combination of a perennial lifecycle and evergreen deciduousness enables the species to engage in continuous photosynthetic activity, supporting its structural development and long-term survival in its natural habitat.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Hymenaea martiana is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, which functions as a self-supporting structure rather than a climber or liana. As an independent organism, it does not exhibit parasitic behavior and is strictly terrestrial in its habitat, lacking any epiphytic or aquatic tendencies. The plant reaches significant dimensions, with an average height of approximately 13 meters, though it has the capacity to reach a maximum height of up to 30 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

30 m

Plant height mean:

13 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Hymenaea martiana is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in its natural environment. As a plant utilizing the C3 pathway, it fixes atmospheric carbon dioxide directly through the Calvin cycle using the enzyme RuBisCO, a trait typical of many woody tropical species. Furthermore, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, and instead relies on the uptake of available nitrogenous compounds from the soil through its root system.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

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

Leaf

1. Data in brief

Chemicals

Hymenaea martiana has 21 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Al, CA, CR, CU, FE.

Al

1. TheScientificWorldJournal
2. Data in brief

CA

1. TheScientificWorldJournal
2. Data in brief

CR

1. TheScientificWorldJournal
2. Data in brief

CU

1. TheScientificWorldJournal
2. Data in brief

FE

1. TheScientificWorldJournal
2. Data in brief

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Letters in applied microbiology

MG

1. TheScientificWorldJournal
2. Data in brief

MN

1. TheScientificWorldJournal
2. Data in brief

NI

1. TheScientificWorldJournal
2. Data in brief

S-

1. TheScientificWorldJournal
2. Data in brief

Activities

Hymenaea martiana has 5 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antifungal, Antioxidant, Antiviral, Gastroprotective, Hepatoprotective.

Antifungal

1. Data in brief

Antioxidant

1. Data in brief

Antiviral

1. Data in brief

Gastroprotective

1. Data in brief

Hepatoprotective

1. Data in brief

Conditions

Hymenaea martiana has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include antioxidant, antiviral.

Antioxidant

1. Data in brief

Antiviral

1. Data in brief

Preparations

Hymenaea martiana has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aqueous extracts.

Aqueous extracts

1. Letters in applied microbiology