wild pea

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• wild pea

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Phaseolus adenanthus
• Phaseolus cirrosus
• Phaseolus radicans
• Phaseolus cochleatus var. violaceus
• Phaseolus adenanthus var. latifolius
• Phaseolus adenanthus var. radicans
• Phaseolus adenanthus f. subtortus
• Phaseolus adenanthus var. truxillensis
• Vigna adenantha
• Phaseolus adenanthus var. caeduorum
• Phaseolus cochleatus var. pallidus
• Dolichos oleraceus
• Phaseolus truxillensis var. minor
• Phaseolus truxillensis var. grandiflorus
• Phaseolus truxillensis f. velutina
• Phaseolus adenanthus f. guaraniticus
• Phaseolus adenanthus f. janeirensis
• Phaseolus adenanthus f. velutinus
• Phaseolus adenanthus f. bahiensis
• Phaseolus surinamensis
• Phaseolus subtortus
• Phaseolus senegalensis
• Phaseolus spiralis
• Phaseolus latifolius
• Phaseolus amoenus
• Phaseolus amoenus
• Phaseolus amarus
• Phaseolus barbulatus
• Phaseolus brevipes
• Phaseolus caeduorum
• Phaseolus cuernavacanus
• Phaseolus cumingii
• Phaseolus occidentalis
• Phaseolus rostratus
• Phaseolus macfadyenii

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified within the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Ultimately, the medicinal species is identified by the genus Leptospron and the specific epithet adenanthum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is found across several specific regions within West Tropical Africa. Its geographical range includes the nation of Benin, where it can be located in the local environment. It is also distributed throughout Burkina and the Gambia. Furthermore, the species inhabits the territories of Guinea-Bissau and Guinea. These five countries represent the documented distribution of this medicinal species.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Leptospermum adenanthum is characterized by its ability to thrive across a diverse altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 1300 m AMSL. This species demonstrates significant adaptability to different environmental contexts, commonly occurring within the Cerrado (latu sensu) biome as well as in anthropized areas (Área Antrópica), indicating its capacity to persist in both natural savanna landscapes and human-modified habitats.

Elevational range max:

1300 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Cerrado (lato sensu)

Genetics

The genetics of Leptospermum adenanthum are characterized by a specific karyotype that serves as a fundamental identifier for its biological classification. A defining cytogenetic feature of this species is its diploid chromosome number, which is documented at 22. This chromosomal configuration provides the structural basis for its genetic inheritance and plays a critical role in the stability of its genome during meiotic processes. The presence of these 22 chromosomes governs the complex patterns of genetic recombination and segregation that occur during reproduction, ultimately influencing the phenotypic diversity and evolutionary adaptations observed within the species.

Chromosome number :

22

Life history

The life history of Leptospermum adenanthum is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, ensuring its long-term presence within its ecological niche. In terms of its structural survival strategy, the plant functions as a cryptophyte, meaning its regenerative buds are protected below the soil surface or under a layer of leaf litter to withstand adverse environmental conditions. Furthermore, it exhibits the life form of a geophyte, utilizing underground storage organs to sustain itself through varying seasonal cycles and facilitate regrowth.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Leptospira adenanthum is characterized by a growth form classified as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. It functions as an obligatory climber, taking the form of a vine to navigate its environment. The plant typically reaches a mean height of approximately 5 m. As a terrestrial organism, it is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte, maintaining an independent existence without parasitic requirements.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Leptospermum adenanthum is characterized by specialized nutrient acquisition and specific morphological adaptations in its foliage. As a nitrogen fixer, the plant possesses the physiological capacity to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, a process that enhances its ability to thrive in nutrient-poor soils. Its leaf structure exhibits significant variability in dimensions, with individual leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 14 cm, while leaf widths fluctuate between 2 cm and 8 cm. Furthermore, the plant does not exhibit succulence, indicating a physiological strategy that relies on standard transpiration and water management processes rather than specialized water-storing tissues within the leaves.

Leaf length max:

14 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf width max:

8 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Leptospron adenanthum is characterized by the development of a pod-type fruit that exhibits dehiscence to release its seeds. These fruits vary in size, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 7.5 cm to a maximum of 14 cm, and widths spanning from 0.7 cm to 1.4 cm. The seeds produced within these pods are relatively small, featuring a minimum length of 5 mm and a maximum length of 7 mm, while their width ranges from 4.5 mm to 5.5 mm. In terms of mass, the seeds show significant variation, with a minimum weight of 0.08853 g, a mean mass of approximately 0.119465 g, and a maximum mass of 0.19744 g. For dispersal, the species utilizes a hydrochorous syndrome, relying on water to transport its seeds to new locations.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Fruit length max:

14 cm

Fruit length min:

7.5 cm

Fruit type :

pod

Fruit width max:

1.4 cm

Fruit width min:

0.7 cm

Seed length max:

7 mm

Seed length min:

5 mm

Seed mass max:

0.19744 g

Seed mass mean:

0.119465 g

Seed mass min:

0.08853 g

Seed width max:

5.5 mm

Seed width min:

4.5 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Leptospron adenanthum has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include kaempferol, quercetin.

kaempferol

1. Phytochemistry

quercetin

1. Phytochemistry