Back
Swartzia pinnata (Vahl) Willd.
| Family Name: | Fabaceae (Leguminosae) |
| Synonyms: | Tounatea pinnata, Tunatea pinnata, Abrus pinnata |
| Common Name: | Bois Pois, Ichi-Ben-Bana (One-Petal Flower), Pinnate Swartzia |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Small (6m-15m)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 12 m to 16 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, Caribbean |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Small cauliflorous leguminous tree, up to 16m height, known to produce root nodules. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves pinnately-compound, each with 5 elliptical-oblong leaflets (15-30cm long). Smooth, slightly bulging in between veins, prominently veined on underside. |
| Flowers | Yellow, 2-5cm across. Structure highly-unusual, with 1 prominent roundish petal and 4 sepals. Stamens numerous and dimorphic, where 5 are distinctly longer than the rest, curving outwards from base of flower. Flowers produced in elongated arching raceme inflorescences on long stalks arising directly from trunk and main branches (cauliflory). Blooms between June to July in native range. Species appears to bloom once to twice yearly (between May and August) under local conditions, with each episode lasting 1-2 months. Pollinated by large bees. |
| Fruit | Dehiscent pods, tear-drop or violin-shaped, tomentose, 10-14cm long, ripening from green to reddish, containing many seeds. Fruiting not obserbved under local conditions. |
| Habitat | Lowland rainforests in Caribbean region. |
| Cultivation | Takes full sun to bright shade. Prefers well-drained conditions, suitable in sandy loam and peat mixes. Propagate by cuttings (which root in sand) or seeds. |
| Etymology | Genus epithet 'Swartzia' named after Swedish botanist, physician and longtime West Indies resident, Olof Peter Swartz (1760-1816), regarded as the world's first orchid taxonomist who disovered and described 25 genera of orchids, and created the orchid names Dendrobium, Cymbidium, and Oncidium. Swartz sailed from Sweden to Carribean in 1783 at age of 23 to collect rainforest flora, and in 1786, turned down a travelling physician post with British East India Company (whose staff included Stamford Raffles).Species epithet 'pinnata' means 'feather-like', describing how the plant's leaflets are arranged on both sides of the stalk of a pinnately-compound leaf. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Suitable for Roadsides, General |
| Thematic Landscaping | Golden Garden, Naturalistic Garden |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Bee)) |
|---|---|
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Abiotic (Explosive Dehiscence) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun, Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Acidic (low pH) Soils |
| Maintenance Requirements | Moderate |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Stem Cutting, Air-Layering |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth, Raised / Sunken Veins |
| Foliar Type | Compound (Odd-Pinnate) |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Elliptical, Oblong) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Foliar Base | Acute |
| Typical Foliar Area | Macrophyll ( 182.25cm2 - 1640.25 cm2 ) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Trunk Type (Non Palm) | Woody |
|---|---|
| Bark Colour(s) | Yellowish-brown |
| Mature Bark Texture | Scaly |
| Stem Type & Modification | Woody |
| Root Type | Underground (Tap Root, Fibrous Root) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Yellow / Golden |
|---|---|
| Flower Symmetry | Bilateral |
| Inflorescence Type | Raceme |
| Flowering Period | Once Yearly |
| Flower Lifespan on Plant | Several Weeks |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
|---|---|
| Fruit Type | Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Legume / Pod |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 29444 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 3753 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |