divi-divi

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• divi-divi

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Poinciana coriaria
• Caesalpinia coriaria
• Caesalpinia thomaea

Regional and Traditional Names

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 is positioned in the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Libidiibia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several distinct regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, it can be found within the borders of Ghana. Its presence extends into West-Central Tropical Africa, specifically located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Within East Tropical Africa, the species is documented in both Tanzania and Uganda. Finally, the plant's range reaches into South Tropical Africa, where it is distributed in Mozambique.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Libidiibia coriaria is characterized by its ability to inhabit diverse topographical gradients, spanning a broad vertical distribution within its natural environment. This species thrives across an elevational range that begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends up to a maximum altitude of 1000 m AMSL. This altitudinal breadth suggests a high degree of ecological plasticity, allowing the plant to adapt to varying atmospheric pressures, temperature fluctuations, and moisture regimes found between coastal lowlands and mid-elevation zones. Such a wide range indicates that the plant can occupy a variety of niche habitats, likely ranging from lowland scrublands to more temperate montane fringes, provided the specific soil and precipitation requirements of its ecosystem are met.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Libidiibia coriaria is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and maintain a stable presence within its ecological niche. Throughout its development, the species exhibits an evergreen habit, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and photosynthetic throughout the year without the seasonal shedding of leaves typical of deciduous species. This combination of a long-lived lifecycle and constant leaf cover enables the plant to maintain continuous biological activity and adapt to its environment over an extended period.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Libidia bia coriaria is characterized by a woody growth form that can manifest as either a shrub or a tree. This plant exhibits a significant stature, reaching a mean height of approximately 10 m, with a maximum height potential of up to 12 m. It is classified as a terrestrial species, meaning it is not aquatic or semi-aquatic, and it functions as a terrestrial organism rather than an epiphyte. In terms of its structural habit, the plant is described as self-supporting, lacking the climbing mechanisms of lianas or vines, and it operates as an independent organism rather than a parasite.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

12 m

Plant height mean:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Libidibia coriaria is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant's vegetative structure features elliptic leaves with an entire margin, lacking both leaf thorns and leaf spines. Furthermore, it functions as a nitrogen fixer, utilizing biological processes to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form, thereby enhancing soil fertility and its own nutritional uptake.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Libidiibia coriaria is driven by biotic pollination syndromes, specifically relying on insects and bees to facilitate the transfer of pollen. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces dry fruits that house its seeds. The seeds exhibit highly consistent morphological dimensions, characterized by a uniform seed length of 5.9 mm and a consistent seed volume of 57 mm³. In terms of mass, the seeds vary slightly, with a minimum mass of 0.03444 g, a mean mass of 0.05522 g, and a maximum mass reaching 0.0977 g.

Fruit dryness :

dry

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length mean:

5.9 mm

Seed mass max:

0.0977 g

Seed mass mean:

0.05522 g

Seed mass min:

0.03444 g

Seed volume max:

57 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Libidibia coriaria has 12 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 3-O-Galloylquinic acid, Corilagin, Digalloylglucose, Gallic acid, Hydrolyzable Tannins.

3-O-Galloylquinic acid

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Corilagin

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Digalloylglucose

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Gallic acid

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hydrolyzable Tannins

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Pentagalloylglucose

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Tetragalloylglucose

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Valoneic acid dilactone

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

acetone water

1. Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria

digalloylshikimic acid

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Libidibia coriaria has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective.

Antioxidant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hepatoprotective

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Preparations

Libidibia coriaria has 4 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include acetone-water (AW), acetone-water-dichloromethane (AWD), methanol-water (MW), methanol-water-dichloromethane (MWD).

Acetone-water (aw)

1. Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria

Acetone-water-dichloromethane (awd)

1. Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria

Methanol-water (mw)

1. Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria

Methanol-water-dichloromethane (mwd)

1. Revista brasileira de parasitologia veterinaria = Brazilian journal of veterinary parasitology : Orgao Oficial do Colegio Brasileiro de Parasitologia Veterinaria