Hymenaea parvifolia

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Fabales and is a member of the Fabaceae family. Specifically, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Hymenaea, of which the species Hymenaea parvifolia is a part.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse distribution across several regions of the South American continent. In Northern South America, its presence is documented within the borders of Venezuela. Moving toward the western side of the continent, it can be found in Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia. Additionally, the species extends into the Brazil West-Central region. Together, these locations illustrate the wide geographical range of Hymenaea parvifolia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Hymenaea parvifolia is fundamentally characterized by its presence within the Floresta de Terra Firme, where it thrives in non-flooded, stable forest environments. This species typically occupies specific topographical niches, with an average elevational range centered around 230 m AMSL. Within these terrestrial forest ecosystems, its growth and distribution are shaped by the nutrient cycling and structural complexity typical of undisturbed upland habitats.

Elevational range mean:

230 m AMSL

Habitat :

Floresta de Terra Firme

Life history

The life history of Hymenaea parvifolia is characterized by its nature as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons and establish long-term stability within its ecosystem. Throughout its existence, the plant maintains an evergreen status, retaining its foliage continuously rather than shedding it seasonally, which ensures a constant capacity for photosynthesis and metabolic activity. This combination of a perennial lifecycle and evergreen habit enables the species to maintain a steady physiological presence, contributing to its enduring role in its natural habitat.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Hymenaea parvifolia is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that reaches a typical height of approximately 20 m. As a self-supporting species, it does not exhibit climbing behaviors such as lianas or vines, nor does it function as an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. The plant is an independent organism, showing no parasitic tendencies, and thrives in terrestrial habitats rather than aquatic or semiaquatic environments.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

20 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Hymenaea parvifolia is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which facilitates carbon fixation through the Calvin cycle, a common mechanism in many tropical forest canopy species. In terms of nutrient cycling and symbiotic relationships, this species is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized root nodules required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms and must instead rely on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil through its root system.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Hymenaea parvifolia has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Fatty acids, Flavonoids.

Fatty acids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology