Roman cassie

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Roman cassie
• Caven Thorn
• Roman-cassie

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Acacia farnesiana f. cavenia
• Acacia caven var. dehiscens
• Acacia farnesiana var. brachicarpa
• Acacia caven var. macrocarpa
• Vachellia farnesiana f. armata
• Acacia caven var. microcarpa
• Vachellia farnesiana f. brachypoda
• Acacia caven var. sphaerocarpa
• Vachellia farnesiana f. cavenia
• Acacia caven var. stenocarpa
• Vachellia farnesiana f. inermis
• Vachellia farnesiana f. micrantha
• Acacia cavenia
• Inga caven
• Acacia aromatica
• Acacia farnesiana var. heterocarpa
• Acacia farnesiana var. cavenia
• Acacia adenopa
• Vachellia farnesiana f. microcarpa
• Vachellia farnesiana f. stenocarpa
• Acacia caven
• Vachellia ibirocayensis
• Mimosa cavenia
• Acacia ibirocayensis
• Acacia adenocarpa
• Mimosa caven

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 class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered under Fabales and placed in the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Vachellia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide and diverse geographical distribution across multiple continents. In Southwestern Europe, its presence is specifically noted in Spain. Its range extends significantly into Western South America, where it can be found in Bolivia. Within the South American continent, it is also located in the West-Central and Southern regions of Brazil. Finally, the species reaches the Northeast portion of Argentina in Southern South America.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Vacchellia caveen is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution, spanning from sea level (0 m AMSL) to a maximum elevation of 3200 m AMSL. This species demonstrates significant environmental plasticity, as it is found inhabiting both natural and human-altered landscapes, specifically within anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica) and the Cerrado biome (latu sensu).

Elevational range max:

3200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Cerrado (lato sensu)

Life history

The life history of Vacchellia caveen is characterized by a long-term developmental strategy, as it functions as a perennial organism. In terms of its structural growth and ecological positioning, the plant exhibits a dual classification of life forms; it is identified as a phanerophyte, indicating that its buds are borne on aerial shoots well above the ground, while it also demonstrates traits consistent with a nanophanerophyte, suggesting that its woody parts remain relatively low in stature.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Vachellia caveen is characterized by a woody structure that functions as a self-supporting growth form. It primarily manifests as a tree or a subshrub, reaching a mean plant height of 6 m, with a maximum potential height of up to 7 m. The plant is strictly terrestrial in its habitat, lacking any aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies, and it does not exhibit epiphytic behavior, remaining independent rather than functioning as a holoepiphyte or hemiepiphyte. Furthermore, it is an independent organism that does not act as a parasite, maintaining a self-supporting stature without the need to climb as a liana or vine.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

subshrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

7 m

Plant height mean:

6 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Vacchellia caveen is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a mechanism where carbon dioxide is fixed directly through the Calvin cycle using the enzyme RuBisCO. This metabolic process dictates the plant's gas exchange patterns and water-use efficiency within its specific ecological niche. Furthermore, the species functions as a nitrogen fixer, possessing the biological capability to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form, likely through symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria within its root systems, thereby enhancing its nutrient acquisition and soil enrichment processes.

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Vacchellia cavea is characterized by the production of seeds that exhibit specific morphological variations in weight. The seed mass within the population shows a measurable range, with a recorded minimum mass of 0.0777 g and a maximum mass reaching 0.104 g. On average, the seed mass is 0.0939 g, reflecting a consistent pattern of seed development essential for the establishment of new individuals in its habitat.

Seed mass max:

0.104 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0939 g

Seed mass min:

0.0777 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Vachellia caven 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 flower.

Flower

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Vachellia caven has 4 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Cicatrizant, Digestive, Diuretic.

Antioxidant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cicatrizant

1. Natural product communications

Digestive

1. Natural product communications

Diuretic

1. Natural product communications

Preparations