Money tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Guiana-chestnut
• Malabar-chestnut
• provision-tree
• sabanut
• water-chestnut
• wild cocoa
• Malabar Chestnut
• money tree
• provision tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Sophia carolina
• Pachira grandiflora
• Pachira villosula
• Bombax macrocarpum
• Bombax rigidifolium
• Pachira pustulifera
• Bombax aquaticum
• Pachira macrocarpa
• Pachira aquatica var. occidentalis
• Pachira aquatica var. surinamensis
• Carolinea grandiflora
• Carolinea macrocarpa

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Pachira aquatica, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae, falling within the order Malvales. Finally, it is a member of the family Malvaceae and the genus Pachira.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning across multiple tropical regions. In West Tropical Africa, it can be found growing in Guinea and Senegal. Its presence extends into West-Central Tropical Africa, specifically within the territories of Cameroon and Congo. Furthermore, the species reaches the Western Indian Ocean, where it is located in the Comoros. These various locations highlight its ability to thrive in distinct tropical environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pachira aquatica is characterized by its specialized adaptation to low-lying, seasonally inundated environments, specifically within the Floresta de Várzea habitat. This species thrives in these floodplain forests, where it is adapted to periodic flooding and high moisture levels. Its distribution is strictly confined to lowland areas, maintaining an elevational range that begins at 0 m AMSL and extends to a maximum of 1200 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Floresta de Várzea

Life history

The life history of Pachira aquatica is characterized by its nature as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a long-term presence in its natural habitat. Throughout its development, the plant maintains an evergreen habit, ensuring that it retains its foliage year-round rather than undergoing a seasonal shedding period. This continuous vegetative presence supports its steady growth patterns and long-term survival within aquatic or riparian ecosystems.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pachira aquatica is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree, which functions as a self-supporting structure rather than a climber or liana. It is an independent plant, meaning it does not exhibit parasitic behavior, and it grows as a terrestrial species rather than an epiphyte. In terms of stature, the plant reaches a mean height of approximately 12 m, though it can attain a maximum height of up to 29 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

29 m

Plant height mean:

12 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pachira aquaticus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy common to many tropical woody species that facilitates carbon fixation through the Calvin cycle. In terms of its nutritional and structural composition, the plant exhibits a consistent Leaf Dry Matter Content (LDMC) of 320 mg/g, with no observed variation between its mean, minimum, and maximum recorded values. Furthermore, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms.

Leaf dry matter content (LDMC) mean:

320 mg/g

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pachira aquatica is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on bats to facilitate the transfer of pollen. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces seeds that exhibit a range of morphological dimensions. The seeds typically possess a mean length of 15.5 mm, with individual lengths ranging from a minimum of 15 mm to a maximum of 30 mm. In terms of mass, the seeds are relatively lightweight, with a mean mass of 1.73 g, though they can vary from as little as 0.73 g to as much as 3.73 g. The seed volume is consistently measured at 4100 mm³, representing both the minimum and maximum recorded values as well as the mean. Once mature, the seeds are dispersed via a hydrochorous syndrome, utilizing water as the primary medium for movement and colonization within its aquatic environment.

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Pollination syndrome :

bat

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length max:

30 mm

Seed length mean:

15.5 mm

Seed length min:

15 mm

Seed mass max:

3.73 g

Seed mass mean:

1.73 g

Seed mass min:

0.73 g

Seed volume max:

4100 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Pachira aquatica has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed.

Seed

1. Drug and chemical toxicology

Chemicals

Pachira aquatica has 21 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Ash, BETA-SITOSTEROL, CALCIUM, FAT, IRON.

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

IRON

1. Dr. Duke

PHOSPHORUS

1. Dr. Duke

POTASSIUM

1. Dr. Duke

SODIUM

1. Dr. Duke

STERCULIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke

Tannin

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Pachira aquatica has 287 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, Acidulant, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor, Allergenic, Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor.

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic

1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic?

1. Dr. Duke

Anemiagenic

1. Dr. Duke

Angiogenic

1. Dr. Duke