Leucaena collinsii

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Leucaena esculenta subsp. collinsii

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Fabales, falling into the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Leucaena and the specific species name collinsii.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Leucaena collinsii, exhibits a specific range within the country of Mexico. Its native presence is primarily concentrated in two distinct regions of the nation. Specifically, the species can be found growing throughout Mexico Southwest. Additionally, its distribution extends into the area of Mexico Southeast. These two geographical zones define the known habitat for this medicinal plant.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Leucaena collinsii is characterized by its classification as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. Throughout its developmental stages, the plant exhibits a deciduous habit, meaning it undergoes a seasonal shedding of its foliage.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Leucaena collinsii is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree, reaching an average plant height of approximately 12 m. It is a terrestrial species that functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte. In terms of its structural habit, the plant is self-supporting rather than behaving as a liana or vine, maintaining a stable upright posture through its woody development.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

12 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Leucaena collinsii is characterized by a highly efficient symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, typically belonging to the Rhizobium genus, which allows the plant to function as a nitrogen fixer. Through the formation of specialized root nodules, the plant facilitates the biological nitrogen fixation process, converting atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia that can be readily assimilated into organic compounds for growth and development. This metabolic capability provides a significant physiological advantage, particularly in nutrient-poor soils, as it reduces the plant's dependency on exogenous soil nitrogen. This internal nitrogen sourcing supports robust protein synthesis and chlorophyll production, driving high photosynthetic efficiency and enabling the plant to maintain vigorous vegetative growth and reproductive cycles even in nitrogen-limited environments.

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Reproduction

The reproduction of Leucaena collinsii is driven by biotic mechanisms, characterized by a pollination syndrome that relies heavily on biological agents rather than abiotic factors. The reproductive process is primarily facilitated through biotic pollination, where living organisms serve as the essential vectors for pollen transfer. Specifically, the plant exhibits an insect-mediated pollination syndrome, utilizing various insect species to ensure successful fertilization. This interaction involves a diverse range of insect visitors, such as bees, beetles, ants, butterflies, moths, and flies, which play a critical role in the movement of pollen between flowers to achieve genetic exchange.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Leucaena collinsii has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.

Antioxidant

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)