fragrant padritree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• fragrant padritree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Stereospermum suaveolens
• Stereospermum chelonoides var. shendurunii
• Stereospermum colais var. shendurunii
• Spathodea suaveolens
• Tecoma suaveolens
• Heterophragma chelonoides
• Hieranthes fragrans
• Heterophragma suaveolens
• Bignonia suaveolens
• Bignonia gratissima
• Bignonia chelonoides

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae, the order Lamiales, and the family Bignoniaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Stereospermum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily found within the diverse landscapes of the Indian Subcontinent. Its natural habitat spans across several key regions, including the state of Assam and various parts of India. It can also be located throughout the nation of Bangladesh, showcasing a broad regional presence. Furthermore, its distribution extends into the rugged terrains of the East Himalaya and the mountainous country of Nepal. Together, these areas define the specific geographical range where the species thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Stereospermum chelonoideides is characterized by its existence as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated structures, typically manifesting as a woody tree or shrub where the buds are situated well above the ground level. Its physiological cycle is marked by a deciduous nature, meaning it undergoes a seasonal shedding of its foliage, which serves as an adaptation to its specific climatic rhythms. This combination of a long-lived perennial lifecycle, a phanerophyte growth form, and deciduous phenology dictates its seasonal patterns of growth, dormancy, and nutrient cycling within its natural habitat.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Stereospermum chelonoides is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree, capable of reaching a significant plant height with a mean measurement of approximately 23 m. As an independent species, it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a terrestrial life habit rather than an aquatic or semiaquatic one. In terms of its structural support and habit, the plant is classified as self-supporting, lacking the climbing tendencies of vines or lianas. Its physical structure is defined by its woody nature, providing the necessary stability for its substantial stature within its natural terrestrial habitat.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

23 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Stereospermum chelonoideides is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing the standard Calvin cycle for carbon fixation to facilitate growth and biomass production. In terms of nutrient cycling, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, relying instead on the uptake of nitrogen from the soil.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproductive process of Stereospermum chelonoides is characterized by the development of fruit in the form of a capsule. Upon reaching maturity, the fruit is dehiscent, meaning it splits open to facilitate the release of its seeds. The seeds produced by this species exhibit a highly consistent mass, with a recorded mean, maximum, and minimum value of 0.04484 g, indicating a lack of significant variation in individual seed weight. Following release, the plant utilizes an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on wind currents to transport its seeds away from the parent plant to new locations.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Fruit type :

capsule

Seed mass mean:

0.04484 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Stereospermum chelonoides has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Cycloolivil, Specioside, VMS, lapachol, verminoside.

Cycloolivil

1. Pharmacognosy research

Specioside

1. Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Toxicology & pharmacology : CBP

VMS

1. Free radical research

lapachol

1. Pharmacognosy research

verminoside

1. Free radical research

Activities

Stereospermum chelonoides has 5 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antidyspeptic, Astringent, Antihyperglycemic, Antioxidant.

Analgesic

1. Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Toxicology & pharmacology : CBP
2. Pharmacognosy research

Antidyspeptic

1. Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Toxicology & pharmacology : CBP
2. Pharmacognosy research

Astringent

1. Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Toxicology & pharmacology : CBP
2. Pharmacognosy research

Antihyperglycemic

1. Journal of dietary supplements

Antioxidant

1. Journal of dietary supplements

Preparations

Stereospermum chelonoides has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include methanol extract.

Methanol extract

1. Pharmaceutical biology