Pterocarpus santalinoides

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Amphymenium longifolium
• Ancylocalyx acuminata
• Pterocarpus ancylocalyx
• Pterocarpus grandis
• Pterocarpus esculentus
• Pterocarpus amazonicus
• Pterocarpus michelii
• Lingoum esculentum

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 and the genus Pterocarpus. Specifically, its scientific name is Pterocarpus santalinoides.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across the West Tropical Africa region. Its presence can be documented in the nation of Benin, where it grows within local ecosystems. Additionally, the species is found throughout Burkina, extending its reach across the savanna landscapes. The plant also inhabits parts of the Gambia and stretches into the coastal areas of Ghana. Finally, its documented range includes the territory of Guinea-Bissau, completing its regional spread.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pterocarpus santalinoides is characterized by its adaptation to low-lying, hydromorphic environments, typically occurring at elevations ranging from 0 to 500 m AMSL, with a mean elevation of approximately 180 m AMSL. This species is highly specialized to wetland and riparian ecosystems, thriving in diverse aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats such as gallery or riparian forests (Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria), igapó forests (Floresta de Igapó), várzea forests (Floresta de Várzea), ombrophilous or rainforest environments (Floresta Ombrófila), and mangrove ecosystems (Manguezal).

Elevational range max:

500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

180 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta de Igapó, Floresta de Várzea, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Manguezal

Life history

The life history of Pterocarpus santalinoides is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist in its environment over many years. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated woody stems, specifically functioning as a phanerophyte to ensure survival through various seasonal changes. The species exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its foliage throughout the year, providing a continuous canopy and consistent metabolic activity.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pterocarpus santalinoides is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree. It functions as an independent organism, meaning it is not a parasite, and is strictly terrestrial in its habitat rather than being aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic. In terms of its structural habit, while it possesses the capacity to be self-supporting, its physical stature is quite significant; the plant typically reaches an average height of 12 m, with recorded heights ranging from a minimum of approximately 9.14 m to a maximum of 18 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

18 m

Plant height mean:

12 m

Plant height min:

9.144111192 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pterocarpus santalinoides is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic strategy among many woody dicotyledonous plants that involves the direct fixation of carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle. Furthermore, this species functions as a nitrogen fixer, possessing the biological capacity to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form, which enhances its ability to thrive in nutrient-poor or disturbed environments.

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pterocarpus santalinoides is driven by biotic pollination mechanisms, specifically relying on animal vectors to facilitate genetic exchange. The pollination syndrome of this species is characterized by insect-mediated processes, with a specific and significant reliance on bees as primary pollinators. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces seeds that exhibit a highly uniform mass profile. The seed mass is remarkably consistent, with a measured mean, minimum, and maximum value all recorded at 1.92268 g, indicating a lack of significant variance in the weight of the individual seeds produced during its reproductive cycle.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass mean:

1.92268 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Pterocarpus santalinoides has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Pterocarpus santalinoides has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Tannins, Coumarins, Flavonoids, Steroids, Triterpenes.

Tannins

1. TheScientificWorldJournal
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Coumarins

1. TheScientificWorldJournal

Flavonoids

1. TheScientificWorldJournal

Steroids

1. TheScientificWorldJournal

Triterpenes

1. TheScientificWorldJournal

Conditions

Pterocarpus santalinoides has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include gastroenteritis, heart diseases, liver diseases.

Gastroenteritis

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Heart diseases

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Liver diseases

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Pterocarpus santalinoides has 4 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include hydroalcoholic extracts of the leaves, hydroalcoholic extracts of the root, hydroalcoholic extracts of the trunk bark, methanol extract of the leaves.

Hydroalcoholic extracts of the leaves

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Hydroalcoholic extracts of the root

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Hydroalcoholic extracts of the trunk bark

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Methanol extract of the leaves

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology