Bleedwood tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Bloodwood Tree
• Mukwa
• Transvaal-teak
• bleedwoodtree
• bloodwood
• muninga
• Kiaat Bloodwood
• Matabeleland Deal
• Paddle-Wood
• Paddlewood
• Prickly-Pod Bloodwood
• Sealing Wax Tree
• Sealing-Wax Tree
• Tati Bloodwood
• Transvaal Teak
• Wild Teak
• Wild-Teak

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pterocarpus bussei
• Pterocarpus dekindtianus var. latifoliolatus
• Pterocarpus dekindtianus

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 specific taxonomic identity is established within the genus Pterocarpus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across several key regions within the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, its presence is noted in both Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Moving toward East Tropical Africa, the species can be found in Tanzania. Its range extends into South Tropical Africa, where it is located in Angola. Finally, the plant is also documented as growing in Malawi.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pterocarpus angolensis is characterized by its preference for specific vegetation structures and a broad altitudinal distribution. It is typically found within Brachystegia and other deciduous woodland ecosystems, as well as in wooded grasslands. The species thrives across a significant elevational gradient, ranging from a minimum altitude of 300 m AMSL to a maximum elevation of 1550 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1550 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

300 m AMSL

Habitat :

Brachystegia and other deciduous woodland, wooded grassland

Life history

The life history of Pterocarpus angolensis is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to establish a long-lasting presence within its ecosystem. Throughout its developmental stages, the plant exhibits a deciduous growth habit, shedding its foliage seasonally, which is often a strategic adaptation to manage moisture levels and environmental stressors. This cyclical pattern of leaf loss and regrowth is a defining feature of its biological rhythm, as it transitions through various stages of maturity over many years.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pterocarpus angolensis is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree. It is a self-supporting plant that functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte, maintaining a terrestrial existence. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant vertical development, with a height that ranges from a minimum of 5 m to a maximum of 20 m, though it reaches a mean plant height of approximately 25 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Plant height mean:

25 m

Plant height min:

5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pterocarpus angolensis is characterized by a specialized metabolic framework adapted to its native environments, utilizing a C3 photosynthetic pathway for carbon fixation. This pathway involves the direct carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate by the enzyme RuBisCO, which is typical for many woody tropical species. Furthermore, the plant exhibits a significant symbiotic capability as a nitrogen fixer, hosting diazotrophic bacteria within its root nodules to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a bioavailable form. This nitrogen-fixing mechanism enhances its nutrient acquisition efficiency, allowing the species to thrive in various soil types by reducing its dependence on exogenous nitrogen sources.

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pterocarpus angolensis is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily driven by animal vectors rather than abiotic factors. Specifically, the pollination process involves insect interactions, with bees playing a significant role in the transfer of pollen. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces seeds that exhibit specific mass characteristics. The individual seed mass varies within a defined range, with a minimum value of 0.175 g and a maximum value of 0.24705 g. On average, the seed mass for this species is approximately 0.22005 g.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.24705 g

Seed mass mean:

0.22005 g

Seed mass min:

0.175 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Pterocarpus angolensis has 4 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, leaf, root, stem.

Fruit

1. Malawi medical journal : the journal of Medical Association of Malawi

Leaf

1. Malawi medical journal : the journal of Medical Association of Malawi

Root

1. Malawi medical journal : the journal of Medical Association of Malawi

Stem

1. Malawi medical journal : the journal of Medical Association of Malawi

Chemicals

Pterocarpus angolensis has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include genistein.

genistein

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Pterocarpus angolensis has 72 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Abortifacient, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor, Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, Antiaggregant.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Antiaggregant

1. Dr. Duke

Antiangiogenic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiatherosclerotic

1. Dr. Duke

Anticancer (Breast)

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic (Breast)

1. Dr. Duke

Anticlimacteric

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Pterocarpus angolensis has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Campylobacter jejuni, Entamoeba histoLYtica, Inflammation, skin diseases.

Campylobacter jejuni

1. Annals of tropical medicine and parasitology

Entamoeba histolytica

1. Annals of tropical medicine and parasitology

Inflammation

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Skin diseases

1. Malawi medical journal : the journal of Medical Association of Malawi

Preparations

Pterocarpus angolensis has 4 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include acetone extract, extracts, hexane extract, stem bark extracts.

Acetone extract

1. Journal of health, population, and nutrition

Extracts

1. Annals of tropical medicine and parasitology

Hexane extract

1. Journal of health, population, and nutrition

Stem bark extracts

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)