pau ferro

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Brazilian ironwood
• leopardtree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Apuleia ferrea
• Caesalpinia ferrea

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 the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered under Fabales and placed in the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Libidiibia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide-ranging geographical distribution that spans several distinct tropical regions across the globe. Within the Indian Subcontinent, it is commonly found growing in both India and Pakistan. Its presence extends into the Malesia region, specifically documented in Malaya. Furthermore, the species inhabits parts of Papuasia, notably within New Guinea. Finally, its range reaches the Americas, where it can be located in the Northeast region of Brazil.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Libidiibia ferrea is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. Throughout its lifespan, the plant maintains an evergreen habit, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and present regardless of seasonal shifts, rather than shedding leaves in a deciduous manner.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Libidibia ferrea is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree. This species typically reaches an average plant height of 12 m, though it can attain a maximum height of up to 22 m. It is a strictly terrestrial plant, functioning as an independent organism without parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. Unlike climbing vines or lianas, its structure is self-supporting, maintaining a sturdy, woody stature throughout its development.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

22 m

Plant height mean:

12 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Libidia bia ferrea is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in varying light and temperature conditions. As a member of a group capable of biological nitrogen fixation, the plant possesses the specialized ability to act as a nitrogen fixer, utilizing symbiotic relationships to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms to support its growth and nutritional requirements.

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

Reproduction in Libidibia ferrea is primarily driven by the production of seeds that serve as the fundamental units for dispersal and subsequent germination. The reproductive output is characterized by a highly consistent seed morphology, with all recorded measurements indicating a uniform weight profile. Specifically, the seed mass remains constant across observed samples, maintaining a mean, maximum, and minimum value of 0.0905 g. This precise seed mass suggests a standardized energy investment per seed during the maturation process, which is a critical factor in ensuring successful establishment within its natural habitat.

Seed mass mean:

0.0905 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Libidibia ferrea has 5 reported plant parts identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem, fruit, seed, root.

Leaf

1. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias
2. The open microbiology journal
3. Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine

Stem

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. The open microbiology journal
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Fruit

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

Seed

1. BioMed research international
2. Journal of medicinal food

Root

1. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias

Chemicals

Libidibia ferrea has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, 2-(2,3,6-Trihydroxy-4-carboxyphenyl)ellagic acid, FI, Hydrolyzable Tannins, coumarin.

Flavonoids

1. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias
2. PloS one

2-(2,3,6-Trihydroxy-4-carboxyphenyl)ellagic acid

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

FI

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hydrolyzable Tannins

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

coumarin

1. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias

ellagic acid

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Activities

Libidibia ferrea has 6 reported activities identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antinociceptive, Antioxidant, Antiulcer, Antiulcerogenic.

Analgesic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antinociceptive

1. Inflammopharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

Antiulcer

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antiulcerogenic

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

Gastroprotective

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

Conditions

Libidibia ferrea has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Libidibia ferrea has 14 reported preparations identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include AE, DELfp, Lipidic Portion of Libidibia ferrea (LPLF), Tea from Pods with Seeds, aqueous extract.

Ae

1. Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de Sao Paulo

Delfp

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity

Lipidic portion of libidibia ferrea (lplf)

1. BioMed research international

Tea from pods with seeds

1. Journal of medicinal food

Aqueous extract

1. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias

Aqueous extract of the stem bark

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous seed extract

1. BioMed research international

Bark of the stem

1. The open microbiology journal

Crude or fractionated extracts

1. Drug development and industrial pharmacy

Dry extract of l. ferrea pods

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity