Snowflake wattle

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Snowflake wattle
• white stickpea

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Calliandra portoricensis
• Feuilleea portoricensis
• Acacia portoricensis
• Anneslia portoricensis
• Mimosa portoricensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Zapoteca portoricensis, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is identified under the genus Zapoteca.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Zapoteca portoricensis, exhibits a specific distribution pattern across the tropical regions of Africa. It is found within West Tropical Africa, spanning several countries including Benin and Ghana. The species also maintains a presence in Togo and Nigeria as part of its western range. Moving eastward, its distribution extends into West-Central Tropical Africa. Specifically, this medicinal plant can be located within the borders of Cameroon.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Zapoteca portoricensis is defined by its broad altitudinal distribution across diverse tropical landscapes. This species inhabits a wide vertical gradient, ranging from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1800 m AMSL. While it is capable of thriving in higher montane environments, its ecological preference is centered at much lower altitudes, with a mean elevational range of approximately 300 m AMSL. This distribution suggests an adaptability to various moisture regimes and temperature profiles found between coastal lowlands and mid-elevation tropical zones.

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

300 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Zapoteca portoricensis is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its life cycle within a single year. As a perennial, it maintains a continuous presence in its natural habitat, often establishing a robust root system that supports long-term vegetative growth and multiple reproductive cycles. This enduring lifecycle enables the plant to adapt to seasonal environmental fluctuations, ensuring its survival and ability to produce seeds over an extended period, which contributes to its long-term stability within its ecological niche.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Zapoteca portoricensis is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically manifesting as a shrub. This plant reaches a maximum height of approximately 4 meters and is classified as a self-supporting organism, as it does not function as an obligatory or facultative climber, liana, or vine. In terms of its ecological positioning and substrate preference, the species is terrestrial rather than aquatic or semiaquatic, and it functions as a terrestrial plant rather than an epiphyte (whether holoepiphyte, hemiepiphyte, or otherwise). Furthermore, the species is an independent organism, showing no parasitic behavior, and maintains a consistently woody structure throughout its development.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

4 m

Woodiness :

woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Zapoteca portoricensis has 2 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, stem.

Root

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Frontiers in chemistry
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. African journal of medicine and medical sciences

Stem

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Zapoteca portoricensis has 9 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include AFZELECHIN, Gallic acid, Lupeol, Spinasterone, Triterpenes.

AFZELECHIN

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Gallic acid

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Lupeol

1. Experimental parasitology

Spinasterone

1. Experimental parasitology

Triterpenes

1. International journal of molecular sciences

anabellamide

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

nigrosporolide

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

polyphenols

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

trans-geranic acid

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Activities

Zapoteca portoricensis has 8 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Abortifacient, Anthelmintic, Anticancer, Antidiabetic.

Antimicrobial

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. International journal of molecular sciences

Abortifacient

1. Frontiers in chemistry

Anthelmintic

1. Frontiers in chemistry

Anticancer

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Antidiabetic

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Antiinflammatory

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Cytotoxic

1. Frontiers in chemistry

Conditions

Zapoteca portoricensis has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include tonsillitis.

Tonsillitis

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Zapoteca portoricensis has 10 reported preparations identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include An alkaloidal extract, aqueous extracts of both root and stem, ethyl acetate, ethyl acetate extract of the roots, extracts.

An alkaloidal extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous extracts of both root and stem

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ethyl acetate

1. Experimental parasitology

Ethyl acetate extract of the roots

1. Frontiers in chemistry

Extracts

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Hexane

1. Experimental parasitology

Methanol

1. Experimental parasitology

Methanol root extract

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Root and stem extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Root extracts

1. Frontiers in chemistry