Swartzia simplex

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical range stretching from North America through Central America. In Mexico, its presence is documented across both the Southwest and Southeast regions. Moving southward, the species is also found within the borders of Belize. Its distribution continues through El Salvador, highlighting its adaptability to different tropical environments. Finally, the range extends to Costa Rica, completing its documented path through the Central American isthmus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Swartzia simplex is defined by its broad altitudinal distribution, allowing it to inhabit diverse topographical gradients. This species thrives across a significant elevational range, spanning from sea level at 0 m AMSL up to a maximum altitude of 1250 m AMSL. This wide vertical distribution suggests a high degree of environmental plasticity, enabling the plant to adapt to varying climatic conditions, temperature fluctuations, and moisture regimes found from lowland coastal or riverine zones to higher montane regions.

Elevational range max:

1250 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Swartzia simplex is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. Throughout its lifespan, the plant maintains an evergreen habit, retaining its foliage continuously rather than undergoing a seasonal shedding of leaves. This combination of a perennial lifecycle and evergreen nature enables the species to maintain consistent photosynthetic activity and structural presence over extended periods.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Swartzia simplex is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree, reaching a mean height of approximately 10 m, with maximum heights extending up to 35 m. This species is a terrestrial plant, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of its structural habit, it is a self-supporting plant, lacking the climbing characteristics of lianas or vines.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

35 m

Plant height mean:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Swartzia simplex is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a metabolic process typical of many temperate and tropical species that rely on the Calvin cycle for carbon fixation. The plant exhibits specific structural properties, including a consistent Stem Specific Density (SSD) with a mean, minimum, and maximum value of 780 mg/cm³, suggesting a highly uniform wood or stem tissue density. Its leaf morphology and resource allocation are defined by a Specific Leaf Area (SLA) that remains constant at a mean, minimum, and maximum of 108.6 cm²/g, reflecting a specific leaf thickness and surface area ratio. Furthermore, the Leaf Dry Matter Content (LDMC) is uniform across its observed range, with a mean, minimum, and maximum of 462 mg/g, which points to a stable level of leaf tissue density and investment in leaf mass. Notably, the plant functions as a nitrogen fixer, a physiological trait that allows it to enhance soil fertility and sustain growth through biological nitrogen fixation.

Leaf dry matter content (LDMC) mean:

462 mg/g

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) min:

108.6 cm²/g

Stem specific density (SSD) min:

780 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Swartzia simplex is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily mediated by insects, with a specific emphasis on bee pollination to facilitate fertilization. Once fertilization is successful, the plant utilizes a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on animals to distribute its seeds. The seeds produced are relatively substantial in size, with a mean mass of 1.091 g, ranging from a minimum of 1.025 g to a maximum of 1.149 g. In terms of physical dimensions, the seeds exhibit a length that varies between a minimum of 15 mm and a maximum of 30 mm.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length max:

30 mm

Seed length min:

15 mm

Seed mass max:

1.149 g

Seed mass mean:

1.091 g

Seed mass min:

1.025 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Swartzia simplex 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 root.

Root

1. Journal of natural products

Conditions

Swartzia simplex has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Candida albicans.

Candida albicans

1. Journal of natural products

Preparations

Swartzia simplex has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include dichloromethane extract of the roots.

Dichloromethane extract of the roots

1. Journal of natural products