Parkia discolor
Parkia discolor, commonly known as the Blackwood tree, is a majestic tropical species native to Southeast Asia. Renowned for its striking architecture and ecologically vital role, this timber tree offers significant medicinal potential. Its bark and various components are traditionally utilized in folk medicine to treat diverse ailments.
- Scientific name: Parkia discolor
- Family: Fabaceae
- Native range: Southern America
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, specifically within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Parkia, specifically as the species Parkia discolor.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Parkia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Parkia discolor, is known by various local names depending on the region and language. In English, it is commonly referred to as the Discolored Parkia, while in Spanish, it is known as Parkia decolorada. In French, it is called Parkia décolorée, and in Portuguese, it is referred to as Parkia descolorida.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|
Distribution
This plant is primarily distributed across specific regions of the South American continent. In Northern South America, its presence is noted within the borders of Venezuela. Moving toward the western part of the continent, the species can also be found in Colombia. Within the vast territory of Brazil, its distribution is concentrated in the northern region. Together, these locations define the natural geographical range of Parkia discolor.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern South America | Venezuela | WCVP |
| Western South America | Colombia | WCVP |
| Brazil | Brazil North | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as the velvet tamarind, contains various components used in traditional medicine, but its seeds are particularly noteworthy. The seeds are housed within long, dark, velvety pods and are frequently utilized for their therapeutic potential in treating different ailments. In various folk medicine practices, these seeds may be processed or decocted to address specific health concerns, reflecting the diverse medicinal applications found throughout the different structures of the species.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| seeds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Parkia discolor has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include cysteine, glycine, lectin, proline.
- Total chemicals
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| cysteine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| glycine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lectin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| proline | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |