flamevine

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• flamevine
• orange trumpetvine
• orange-creeper
• Brazilian flame creeper
• Golden shower
• Orange trumpet
• Orange trumpet creeper

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Tecoma venusta
• Pyrostegia tubulosa
• Pyrostegia tecomiflora
• Pyrostegia dichotoma
• Pyrostegia ignea
• Jacaranda echinata
• Pyrostegia venusta var. villosa
• Tynanthus igneus
• Bignonia tecomiflora
• Bignonia ignea
• Bignonia tubulosa
• Bignonia venusta

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 Lamiales, it is classified under the family Bignoniaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Pyrostegia, specifically as the species Pyrostegia venusta.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a remarkably widespread and fragmented geographical distribution across several different continents and oceans. In West Tropical Africa, its presence has been documented specifically within the borders of Gambia. Its range extends into the Middle Atlantic Ocean, where it can be found on the remote islands of Ascension and St. Helena. Moving toward the Indian Subcontinent, the species is also known to inhabit the region of Assam. Finally, its distribution reaches the Southwestern Pacific, specifically documented in Vanuatu.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pyrostegia venusta is characterized by its ability to inhabit a diverse vertical distribution within its native environment, ranging from sea level up to an elevation of 1900 m AMSL. This species is specifically adapted to the environmental conditions found within the Bosque alto, where it thrives amidst the unique microclimates and structural complexities of high-altitude forest ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

1900 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Bosque alto

Life history

The life history of Pyrostegia venusta is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a stable presence within its ecological niche. Throughout its developmental stages, the plant maintains a consistent vegetative state due to its evergreen nature, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and photosynthetic year-round rather than undergoing a seasonal shedding process. This combination of a long-term lifecycle and constant leaf retention enables the species to continuously engage with its environment, providing a steady foundation for its medicinal properties and overall survival across varying climatic cycles.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pyrostegia venusta is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically manifesting as a shrub that functions as an obligatory liana. It exhibits a scandent shoot orientation, allowing it to climb effectively, and is classified as an independent organism rather than a parasite. While it occupies a terrestrial niche, its habitat adaptability spans across aquatic, semiaquatic, and terrestrial environments. As a terrestrial species, it does not function as an epiphyte, maintaining its growth independently on the ground. The plant reaches a maximum height of approximately 14 meters, supported by its robust, woody structure.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

14 m

Shoot orientation :

scandent

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pyrostegia venusta is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic carbon fixation processes. Its foliage displays an opposite leaf arrangement, with leaves exhibiting an oblong form and lacking any physiological traits of succulence. The dimensions of these leaves vary significantly, with a minimum leaf length of 4 cm and a maximum length reaching 10 cm, while the width ranges from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 4.5 cm.

Leaf arrangement :

opposite

Leaf form :

oblong

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf width max:

4.5 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pyrostegia venusta is characterized by a prolonged flowering period that can span nearly the entire year, beginning as early as January and extending through to December. During this cycle, the plant produces vibrant orange flowers that can reach a maximum length of 7.5 cm. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of a capsule, which can grow to a substantial maximum length of 30 cm. This fruit is classified as dehiscent, meaning it opens at maturity to release its seeds. The dispersal of the species follows an anthropochorous syndrome, indicating that its seeds are primarily spread through human activity.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

orange

Flower length max:

7.5 cm

Flowering time :

Jan

Flowering time :

Dec

Fruit length max:

30 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

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

Flower

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Pyrostegia venusta has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include OCTACOSANE, TRIACONTANE, allantoin.

OCTACOSANE

1. Pharmacognosy magazine

TRIACONTANE

1. Pharmacognosy magazine

allantoin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Pyrostegia venusta has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include adiposity, glucose intolerance, melanoma, vitiligo.

Adiposity

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Glucose intolerance

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Melanoma

1. Pharmacognosy magazine

Vitiligo

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Pyrostegia venusta has 1 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include heptane extract.

Heptane extract

1. Pharmacognosy magazine