yellow ponciana

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• copperpod
• yellow flametree
• yellow poinciana
• yellow-flamboyant
• yellow-flame
• Peltophorum
• Yellow Flame

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Caesalpinia macklottii
• Inga pterocarpa
• Caesalpinia ferruginea
• Caesalpinia arborea
• Caesalpinia roxburghii
• Peltophorum roxburghii
• Baryxylum ferrugineum
• Peltophorum ferrugineum
• Brasilettia ferruginea
• Caesalpinia glenieii
• Caesalpinia kilaroe
• Caesalpinia inermis
• Poinciana roxburghii
• Baryxylum inerme

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Peltophorum pterocarpum, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is placed within the genus Peltophorum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is naturally distributed across several regions within West Tropical Africa. Specifically, its presence has been documented in the nation of Burkina. It is also found spreading through the coastal and inland areas of Gambia. Furthermore, the species inhabits significant portions of Ghana and Guinea. Finally, its geographical range extends into the territories of Liberia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Peltophorum pterocarpum is characterized by its ability to thrive across a diverse altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1500 m AMSL. This broad elevational range, spanning from 0 to 1500 m AMSL, allows the species to inhabit various ecological niches, from lowland coastal regions to more temperate montane environments. As a resilient species, it is typically found in tropical and subtropical climates, often colonizing disturbed areas, forest margins, and open landscapes where sunlight is abundant. Its adaptability to these varying elevations enables it to play a significant role in different ecosystem structures, contributing to canopy cover and providing habitat for various local fauna within its wide environmental tolerance.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Peltophorum pterocarpum is characterized by its existence as a perennial organism, ensuring long-term presence within its ecosystem. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated structures, specifically developing into a large tree with a significant canopy. Regarding its foliage patterns, the plant is classified as evergreen, retaining its leaves throughout the year to facilitate continuous metabolic processes. This robust life strategy, combined with its phanerophyte growth habit, allows the species to establish a dominant physical presence in its habitat.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Peltophorum pterocarpum is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree. It is a self-supporting, independent organism that does not function as a climber, vine, or liana, nor does it act as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. The plant typically reaches a significant stature, with a height ranging from a minimum of 10 m to a maximum of 20 m, maintaining a mean height of approximately 15 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Plant height mean:

15 m

Plant height min:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Peltophorum pterocarpum is characterized by its efficient metabolic processes and symbiotic relationships that support its growth in various tropical environments. The plant utilizes a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which involves the direct fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle using the enzyme RuBisCO. Furthermore, Peltophorum pterocarpum acts as a nitrogen fixer, maintaining a symbiotic association with rhizobial bacteria within its root nodules to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a bioavailable form, thereby enhancing its nutrient uptake and adaptability to nitrogen-limited soils.

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Peltophorum pterocarpum is characterized by a specific seed morphology and a versatile dispersal strategy. The seeds produced by this species exhibit a measurable range in mass, with a minimum weight of 0.0387 g and a maximum weight of 0.081 g, resulting in an average seed mass of approximately 0.05535 g. In terms of propagation and movement, the plant utilizes a complex dispersal syndrome that encompasses anemochorous, zoochorous, autochorous, hydrochorous, and unspecialized mechanisms, allowing the seeds to be spread via wind, animals, self-propulsion, water, or general environmental factors.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Seed mass max:

0.081 g

Seed mass mean:

0.05535 g

Seed mass min:

0.0387 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Peltophorum pterocarpum has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, flower.

Leaf

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of clinical and diagnostic research : JCDR

Flower

1. Journal of clinical and diagnostic research : JCDR

Chemicals

Peltophorum pterocarpum has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Hirsutidin, Phenols, Rhamnetin, TPC.

Flavonoids

1. Journal of clinical and diagnostic research : JCDR

Hirsutidin

1. Cureus

Phenols

1. Journal of clinical and diagnostic research : JCDR

Rhamnetin

1. Cureus

TPC

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Tannins

1. Journal of clinical and diagnostic research : JCDR

quercetin

1. Cureus

Activities

Peltophorum pterocarpum has 3 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Bacteriostatic.

Antioxidant

1. Cureus
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of clinical and diagnostic research : JCDR
4. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Antibacterial

1. Cureus
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Bacteriostatic

1. Journal of food protection

Medicinal Uses

Peltophorum pterocarpum has 9 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Acne Vulgaris, Peptic ulcer, acne, acne vulgaris, atherosclerosis.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations