Terminalia triflora

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Myrobalanus triflora
• Chuncoa triflora
• Myrobalanus balansae
• Terminalia balansae var. bernardinensis
• Terminalia hassleriana var. bernardinensis
• Terminalia hassleriana
• Terminalia balansae

Regional and Traditional Names

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 in the order Myrtales, falling into the family Combretaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Terminalia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide distribution across several regions of the South American continent. In Western South America, it can be found growing within the borders of Bolivia. Its presence in Brazil is extensive, spanning the West-Central, Southeast, and South regions of the country. Moving toward the southern part of the continent, the species is also located in Argentina. Specifically, the plant inhabits the Northeast area of Argentina, completing its geographical range.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Terminalia triflora is characterized by its broad adaptability across diverse biomes and varying topographic gradients. This species thrives in a wide range of habitats, including Anthropic areas, Cerrado (latu sensu), Coastal Forests, Gallery Forests, Deciduous Seasonal Forests, Semi-deciduous Seasonal Forests, and Ombrophilous (Rainforest) environments. Its distribution is also defined by a significant elevational range, occurring from altitudes as low as 300 m AMSL up to a maximum of 1700 m AMSL, allowing it to occupy both lowland tropical ecosystems and higher-altitude montane regions.

Elevational range max:

1700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

300 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta Estacional Decidual, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Life history

The life history of Terminalia triflora is characterized by its existence as a perennial plant, ensuring its presence in the ecosystem over many years. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated branches, a structural strategy that defines its growth habit and life form. The plant follows a deciduous pattern, shedding its leaves periodically as part of its seasonal biological cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Terminalia triflora is characterized by a woody growth form that primarily manifests as a tree, though it can also exhibit shrub-like qualities. It is a self-supporting plant, categorized as neither a climber nor an epiphyte, and functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite. The species is terrestrial in its habitat, lacking aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant reaches a mean height of approximately 10 m, with a maximum potential height of up to 20 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Plant height mean:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Terminalia triflora is characterized by its specific metabolic and nutritional strategies, primarily operating through a C3 photosynthetic pathway. This pathway involves the direct fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic compounds via the Calvin cycle, a mechanism typical of most woody tropical trees. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, relying instead on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Terminalia triflora has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimalarial.

Antimalarial

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Preparations

Terminalia triflora has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Methanol extracts.

Methanol extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology