Red-Wing

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Red-Wing

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cantuffa stellata
• Cantuffa exosa
• Pterolobium brucei
• Pterolobium exosum
• Caesalpinia ligulata
• Fillaea brucei
• Mimosa kantuffa
• Acacia stellata
• Pterolobium abyssinicum
• Quartinia abyssinica
• Mimosa stellata

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Fabales. Finally, it is a member of the Fabaceae family and falls under the genus Pterolobium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several key regions of the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found growing within the borders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its range also extends significantly into Northeast Tropical Africa. Within this northeastern region, the species is documented in Eritrea and Ethiopia. Furthermore, the plant's geographical presence is confirmed in the nation of Somalia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pterolobium stellatum is characterized by its ability to thrive across a diverse altitudinal gradient, occupying various ecological niches within its habitat. This species demonstrates significant adaptability to varying environmental conditions, establishing itself within an elevational range that spans from a minimum of 250 m AMSL to a maximum of 1550 m AMSL. This wide distribution suggests that the plant is capable of tolerating a variety of climatic nuances, ranging from the warmer, more humid conditions found at lower elevations to the potentially cooler, more temperate environments present at higher altitudes. Such ecological plasticity allows it to persist in diverse landscapes, provided the fundamental requirements for its growth and development within this specific vertical range are met.

Elevational range max:

1550 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

250 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Pterolobium stellatum is characterized by its classification as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. As a long-lived woody plant, it avoids the constraints of annual or biennial cycles, instead establishing a stable presence within its ecological niche. This perennial nature enables the plant to undergo repeated cycles of vegetative growth and reproductive phases, contributing to its ability to colonize disturbed areas and maintain a continuous presence in its natural habitat.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pterolobium stellatum is characterized by a woody growth form, manifesting primarily as a shrub. It functions as an obligatory climber, utilizing its structure to ascend and is classified as an independent organism rather than a parasite. This plant is strictly terrestrial in its ecological niche, exhibiting neither aquatic nor epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant displays significant vertical development, with its height ranging from a minimum of 2 m to a maximum of 15 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 15 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

15 m

Plant height min:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pteleobium stellatum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which involves the direct fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle within the mesophyll cells. This metabolic strategy dictates its gas exchange patterns and water-use efficiency, as it relies on the enzyme RuBisCO for initial carboxylation. Furthermore, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized symbiotic relationships with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, necessitating the uptake of nitrates or ammonium directly from the soil substrate to meet its nutritional requirements.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pterolobium stellatum is characterized by the production of seeds that exhibit a highly consistent and narrow range of mass. Based on empirical data, the seed mass follows a precise distribution, with a calculated mean mass of 0.114005 g. This central value is tightly bounded by a maximum seed mass of 0.11624 g and a minimum seed mass of 0.11177 g, indicating a very low degree of morphological variation in the weight of its reproductive units. This uniformity in seed mass suggests a stabilized reproductive strategy, ensuring that each seed carries a consistent nutrient load for germination.

Seed mass max:

0.11624 g

Seed mass mean:

0.114005 g

Seed mass min:

0.11177 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Pterolobium stellatum has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CHLOROFORM.

CHLOROFORM

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Preparations

Pterolobium stellatum has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include chloroform and 80% methanol extracts, crude extract.

Chloroform and 80% methanol extracts

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Crude extract

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine