African locust-bean

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• African locust-bean
• West African locust-bean

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Inga senegalensis
• Parkia oliveri
• Inga faeculifera
• Parkia clappertoniana
• Prosopis faeculifera
• Inga biglobosa
• Parkia filicoidea var. glauca
• Mimosa taxifolia
• Parkia uniglobosa
• Mimosa biglobosa

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. Within the order Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Parkia, specifically the species Parkia biglobosa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Parkia biglobosa, exhibits a specific distribution pattern within the West Tropical Africa region. It can be found growing in the diverse landscapes of Benin. The species is also widely distributed across the territory of Burkina. Furthermore, its presence is documented throughout the nation of Gambia. Finally, the plant is also established within the borders of Ghana and Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Parkia biglobosa is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its ecosystem over many years. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody branches, a structural adaptation that defines its growth habit. The plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage seasonally, which is a critical physiological response to environmental shifts. This lifecycle, combining its long-lived perennial nature with its phanerophyte life form and deciduous phenology, enables the species to thrive within its specific ecological niche.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Parkia biglobosa is characterized by its stature as a robust, woody tree that exhibits a self-supporting growth form. As a terrestrial species, it does not function as an aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic plant, nor does it act as a climber, liana, or vine, remaining instead an independent organism without parasitic tendencies. The plant displays significant vertical development, with a height that typically reaches a mean of 15 m, though individual specimens can vary considerably, ranging from a minimum height of approximately 9.14 m to a maximum of 21.34 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

21.33625945 m

Plant height mean:

15 m

Plant height min:

9.144111192 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Parkia biglobosa is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon assimilation processes and metabolic efficiency within its native tropical environments. As a member of the Fabaceae family, the plant exhibits a highly specialized symbiotic relationship with rhizobial bacteria, functioning as a nitrogen fixer. This nitrogen-fixing capability allows the plant to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, significantly enhancing its nutritional status and supporting growth in nitrogen-deficient soils. This physiological synergy between its C3 metabolism and its ability to fix nitrogen plays a crucial role in its ecological success and its ability to thrive in various savanna ecosystems.

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Parkia biglobosa is driven by complex biotic interactions, characterized primarily by a biotic pollination syndrome with bats playing a significant role in the process. The plant produces dry fruits that contain seeds with specific physical properties conducive to its life cycle. The seeds exhibit a consistent volume of 410 mm³, with both the minimum and maximum recorded values reaching this same measurement. In terms of mass, the seeds are relatively lightweight, ranging from a minimum of 0.22912 g to a maximum of 1 g, with an average seed mass of approximately 0.502556667 g. Following fertilization, the dispersal of the species is categorized as zoochorous, indicating that animals are the primary agents responsible for transporting the seeds to new locations.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit dryness :

dry

Pollination syndrome :

bat

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

1 g

Seed mass mean:

0.502556667 g

Seed mass min:

0.22912 g

Seed volume max:

410 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Parkia biglobosa has 6 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, seed, fruit, flower, root.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition
3. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Seed

1. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition
2. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine
3. Dakar medical

Fruit

1. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition
2. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Flower

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Root

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Stem

1. Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology

Chemicals

Parkia biglobosa has 13 reported phytochemicals identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Ash, CALCIUM, COPPER, FAT, Gallic acid.

Ash

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

CALCIUM

1. International journal of food sciences and nutrition

COPPER

1. International journal of food sciences and nutrition

FAT

1. International journal of food sciences and nutrition

Gallic acid

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

IRON

1. International journal of food sciences and nutrition

Lupeol

1. Fitoterapia

PHOSPHORUS

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

ZINC

1. International journal of food sciences and nutrition

ZN

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

Activities

Parkia biglobosa has 12 reported activities identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antidiabetic, Antihypertensive, Antimicrobial, Antibacterial.

Analgesic

1. International journal of environmental research and public health
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antidiabetic

1. International journal of environmental research and public health
2. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition

Antihypertensive

1. International journal of environmental research and public health
2. Dakar medical

Antimicrobial

1. International journal of environmental research and public health
2. Health science reports

Antibacterial

1. Environmental toxicology and pharmacology

Antiinflammatory

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antimalarial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cytotoxic

1. Environmental toxicology and pharmacology

Hypoglycemic

1. The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology

Hypolipidemic

1. International journal of environmental research and public health

Medicinal Uses

Parkia biglobosa has 17 reported medicinal uses identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include hypertension, antihypertensive, diarrhea, wounds, antidiabetic.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations