Arizona yellow bells

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Golden Seal
• Trumpetbush
• Yellow Bells
• Yellow Blossom
• Ginger-Thomas
• Ginger Thomas
• esperanza
• tecoma
• yellow trumpet flower

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Stenolobium stans
• Gelseminum stans
• Bignonia stans

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is situated in the order Lamiales and the family Bignoniaceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Tecoma.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning several continents and regions. In Southwestern Europe, its presence is specifically noted in Spain. The species also extends into Northern Africa, where it can be found in Tunisia. Moving toward the Atlantic, it inhabits the Macaronesian region, particularly within the Canary Islands. Finally, its range reaches West Tropical Africa, specifically occurring in Gambia and Guinea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Tecoma stans is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse landscapes, spanning an extensive elevational range from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to high-altitude environments reaching 2800 m AMSL. This species demonstrates high ecological plasticity, frequently colonizing disturbed or human-influenced environments classified as Área Antrópica, as well as natural formations such as Carrasco and the Cerrado (latu sensu) biome. Its ability to thrive in both anthropogenic settings and complex tropical savanna ecosystems highlights its resilience and capacity to occupy various niches within its geographical distribution.

Elevational range max:

2800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Carrasco, Cerrado (lato sensu)

Genetics

The genetics of Tecoma stans are characterized by specific chromosomal configurations that play a crucial role in its biological classification and evolutionary complexity. The plant exhibits varying chromosome numbers, with recorded values of 36 and 40, reflecting a degree of karyotypic diversity within the species. Furthermore, the ploidy level is identified as 2, indicating that the species typically functions as a diploid organism. These genetic parameters provide essential insights into the reproductive stability and genomic structure of the species.

Chromosome number :

36, 40

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Tecoma stans is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody stems, a structural trait that defines its life form. This species maintains an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its foliage throughout the year, providing a consistent photosynthetic capacity. These combined biological traits enable the plant to establish a robust presence in its habitat, transitioning through various stages of growth while maintaining its woody, perennial structure.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Tecoma stans is characterized by a woody growth form, typically manifesting as a shrub. It is a terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic tendencies. In terms of stature, it is a substantial species with a plant height that ranges from a minimum of 2 m to a maximum of 10 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 6.05 m. While it exhibits a shrub-like habit, it is also described as being self-supporting in its climbing nature, rather than being an obligatory or facultative vine or liana.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

10 m

Plant height mean:

6.05 m

Plant height min:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Tecoma stans is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation efficiency. The plant exhibits a non-succulent morphology, lacking specialized water-storage tissues, and does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on soil nitrates rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Its foliage is organized in an opposite leaf arrangement, featuring leaves that are imparipinnate in form. These leaves vary significantly in size, with individual lengths ranging from a minimum of 2.4 cm to a maximum of 25 cm, while their widths fluctuate between a minimum of 0.8 cm and a maximum of 3 cm.

Leaf arrangement :

opposite

Leaf form :

imparipinnate

Leaf length max:

25 cm

Leaf length min:

2.4 cm

Leaf width max:

3 cm

Leaf width min:

0.8 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Tecoma stans is characterized by a diverse flowering period that typically begins in April and can extend through December, demonstrating a variable seasonal presence. The plant produces yellow flowers that rely on biotic pollination, specifically utilizing bees as primary pollinators. These flowers vary in size, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 3.5 cm to a maximum of 8.5 cm. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of a capsule. These capsules are quite elongated, measuring between 7 cm and 21 cm in length, and maintain a width between 0.7 cm and 0.8 cm. The fruit is dehiscent, meaning it splits open to release its seeds. The seeds themselves exhibit specific morphological traits, with lengths ranging from 3 mm to 8 mm and widths between 24 mm and 27 mm. The seed mass is relatively light, with a mean mass of approximately 0.006048111 g, a minimum of 0.00485 g, and a maximum of 0.0127 g. For dispersal, the species employs an anemochorous syndrome, relying on wind to carry its seeds to new locations.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flower colour :

yellow

Flower length max:

8.5 cm

Flower length min:

3.5 cm

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Dec

Fruit length max:

21 cm

Fruit length min:

7 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

0.8 cm

Fruit width min:

0.7 cm

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length max:

8 mm

Seed length min:

3 mm

Seed mass max:

0.0127 g

Seed mass mean:

0.006048111 g

Seed mass min:

0.00485 g

Seed width max:

27 mm

Seed width min:

24 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Tecoma stans has 3 reported plant parts identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root, stem.

Leaf

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Die Pharmazie
3. Journal of chromatographic science
4. Saudi journal of biological sciences
5. Natural product research

Root

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Stem

1. Natural product research

Chemicals

Tecoma stans has 48 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Chrysoeriol, apigenin, luteolin, Tecomine, Tecostanine.

Chrysoeriol

1. Journal of chromatographic science
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Saudi journal of biological sciences
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology

apigenin

1. Journal of chromatographic science
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

luteolin

1. Journal of chromatographic science
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Tecomine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Tecostanine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Die Pharmazie

ferulic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Saudi journal of biological sciences

3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid

1. Environmental research

3-Oxours-12-en-28-oic acid

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Actinidine

1. Dr. Duke

Amareloside

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Tecoma stans has 281 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antioxidant, Antiarthritic, Antibacterial, Anticancer.

Antidiabetic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. PeerJ
3. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Environmental research
3. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiarthritic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. PeerJ

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Environmental research

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. PeerJ

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Hypoglycemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Tecoma stans has 16 reported investigations on conditions identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include antidiabetic, diabetes mellitus, hypoglycemic, Candida albicans, Metabolic Syndrome.

Antidiabetic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. PeerJ
3. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Diabetes mellitus

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Archivos de investigacion medica
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hypoglycemic

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of medicinal food

Candida albicans

1. African journal of medicine and medical sciences

Metabolic syndrome

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Type 2 diabetes mellitus

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Environmental research

Blood pressure

1. Journal of medicinal food

Blood sugar

1. Journal of medicinal food

Breast cancer

1. Environmental research

Preparations

Tecoma stans has 13 reported preparations identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include hydroalcoholic extract, Hydroalcoholic extracts, Solvent extraction, Tecoma stans infusion, Tecoma stans leaves.

Hydroalcoholic extract

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hydroalcoholic extracts

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Solvent extraction

1. Journal of medicinal food

Tecoma stans infusion

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Tecoma stans leaves

1. Die Pharmazie

Tsea

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Tshae

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous extract

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Dichloromethane (fch2cl2) extracts

1. Natural product research

Ethyl acetate (fetac) extracts

1. Natural product research