Madrasthorn

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Madrasthorn
• Manila-tamarind
• blackbead
• camachile
• guayamochil
• sweet-inga
• Manila tamarind
• monkeypod tree
• sweet inga
• Yovo michin
• monkeypod

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Acacia obliquifolia
• Inga camatchili
• Feuilleea bertolonii
• Pithecellobium bertolonii
• Inga leucantha
• Inga javana
• Inga nitens
• Zygia dulcis
• Feuilleea dulcis
• Albizia dulcis
• Inga pungens
• Mimosa monilifera
• Pithecellobium littorale
• Mimosa pungens

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, it is identified by the genus Pithecellobium and the species dulce.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution spanning across several regions of the African continent. In Northern Africa, its presence is specifically noted in the country of Egypt. Moving toward the western regions, it can be found throughout various parts of West Tropical Africa. This includes its occurrence in nations such as Benin, Burkina, and Gambia. Additionally, the species is widely distributed within the territory of Ghana.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pithecellobium dulce is characterized by a broad adaptability to diverse topographical gradients, allowing it to thrive across a significant vertical span. It is found inhabiting environments ranging from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 2130 m AMSL. This extensive elevational range suggests a high degree of environmental plasticity, enabling the species to colonize various ecological niches, from lowland tropical regions to higher altitude montane zones. Its ability to persist from 0 m to 2130 m AMSL indicates a resilience to varying temperature regimes and atmospheric pressures, facilitating its distribution across a wide variety of climatic conditions and soil compositions within its natural and introduced habitats.

Elevational range max:

2130 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Genetics

The genetics of Pithecellobium dulce are characterized by a specific karyotypic structure, most notably defined by a diploid chromosome number of 2n = 26. This chromosomal constitution serves as a fundamental genetic marker for the species, influencing its reproductive mechanisms and evolutionary lineage within the Fabaceae family. The stability of this chromosome number plays a critical role in the plant's ability to maintain genetic diversity through meiotic processes, which facilitates adaptation to various environmental conditions. Understanding this chromosomal framework is essential for studying the plant's inheritance patterns, genomic complexity, and the potential for polyploidy or chromosomal rearrangements that may occur during evolutionary divergence.

Chromosome number :

26

Life history

The life history of Pithecellobium dulce is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist and thrive through multiple growing seasons over a long lifespan. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive buds and structural organs are elevated well above the ground level, typically supported by a robust woody stem or tree structure. This phanerophytic life form, categorized under both its primary and secondary biological classifications, ensures that the plant can dominate its ecological niche by maintaining a significant vertical presence, facilitating efficient light capture and seed dispersal within its habitat.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pithecellobium dulce is characterized by a woody growth form that typically manifests as either a tree or a shrub. As a terrestrial plant, it is an independent organism that does not function as an epiphyte or a parasite. The plant exhibits significant variation in stature, with a height ranging from a minimum of 2 m to a maximum of 16 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 15 m. Despite its robust development, it is classified as a self-supporting structure rather than a liana or a climbing vine.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

16 m

Plant height mean:

15 m

Plant height min:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pithecellobium dulce is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes and energy production. The plant exhibits a non-succulent morphology, lacking specialized water-storage tissues in its vegetative structures. Its foliar dimensions are relatively fine, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.7 cm to a maximum of 5 cm, and leaf widths spanning from 0.3 cm to 2.3 cm. Furthermore, the species functions as a nitrogen fixer, possessing the physiological capability to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form, which enhances its nutrient acquisition and ecological efficiency.

Leaf length max:

5 cm

Leaf length min:

0.7 cm

Leaf width max:

2.3 cm

Leaf width min:

0.3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproductive cycle of Pithecellobium dulce is driven by biotic pollination processes, primarily involving insects such as bees. Following successful pollination, the plant develops a dry, dehiscent fruit characterized as a pod. These pods vary in size, typically ranging from 10 cm to a maximum length of 15 cm, with a width spanning between 1 cm and 1.6 cm. Once mature, the pods dehisce to release seeds that exhibit specific morphological traits: the seeds have a length between 9 mm and 12 mm, a width between 7 mm and 8 mm, and a consistent volume of 95 mm³. The seed mass is variable, with a minimum of 0.0174 g, a mean of approximately 0.089884286 g, and a maximum of 0.1235 g. Dispersal is achieved through a zoochorous syndrome, specifically via endozoochory, where animals consume the fruit and disperse the seeds.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

15 cm

Fruit length min:

10 cm

Fruit type :

pod

Fruit width max:

1.6 cm

Fruit width min:

1 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length max:

12 mm

Seed length min:

9 mm

Seed mass max:

0.1235 g

Seed mass mean:

0.089884286 g

Seed mass min:

0.0174 g

Seed volume max:

95 mm³

Seed width max:

8 mm

Seed width min:

7 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Pithecellobium dulce has 3 reported plant parts identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed, leaf, stem.

Seed

1. The Indian journal of medical research
2. Journal of natural products
3. Phytochemistry

Leaf

1. The Indian journal of medical research
2. Biotechnology progress

Stem

1. Pharmacognosy research

Chemicals

Pithecellobium dulce has 12 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Tannins, Flavonoids, Saponins, Acacic Acid, Alangilignoside D.

Tannins

1. Pharmacognosy research
2. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology
3. Scientific reports

Flavonoids

1. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology
2. Scientific reports

Saponins

1. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology
2. Scientific reports

Acacic Acid

1. Journal of natural products

Alangilignoside D

1. Scientific reports

Anthraquinones

1. Scientific reports

Dulcin

1. Phytochemistry

Oleanolic acid-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl (1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside

1. Phytochemistry

Sterols

1. Scientific reports

Terpenes

1. Scientific reports

Activities

Pithecellobium dulce has 3 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antioxidant.

Antibacterial

1. Pharmacognosy research

Antifungal

1. Pharmacognosy research

Antioxidant

1. Scientific reports

Medicinal Uses

Pithecellobium dulce has 8 reported medicinal uses identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include breast cancer, Bacillus cereus, Candida albicans, Enterobacter aerogenes, anti-oxidant.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations