Entada gigas
| Entada gigas | |
|---|---|
| File:Entada gigas, Parque Ecológico Jaguaroundi, Veracruz, Mexico 1.jpg | |
| Seed pod, Parque Ecológico Jaguaroundi, Veracruz, Mexico | |
| Scientific classification Edit this classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Caesalpinioideae |
| Clade: | Mimosoid clade |
| Genus: | Entada |
| Species: | E. gigas
|
| Binomial name | |
| Entada gigas | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Entada gigas, commonly known as the monkey-ladder, sea bean, cœur de la mer or sea heart, is a species of flowering liana in the pea family, Fabaceae, subfamily Mimosoideae. It is native to Central America, the Caribbean, northern South America, and Africa.[2] It is notable for having the largest seedpods in the Fabaceae.[3]
Description
[edit | edit source]Generative characteristics
[edit | edit source]
The fruit measures 12 cm (4.7 in) across and can reach 2 m (6.6 ft) long, with reports of pods up to 2.5 m (8 ft) long.[4][5] This pod, like all legumes, is a single carpel, the largest carpel of any known plant. Inside each pod are ten to fifteen seeds, each of which have a diameter of 6 cm (2.4 in) and a thickness of 2 cm (0.79 in).[6] The seeds contain a hollow cavity, which gives them buoyancy. After being washed by rain into rivers and then the ocean, the seeds can drift long distances on ocean currents. Seed buoyancy and vitality lasts at least two years.[7]
Use
[edit | edit source]In Gabon it is used to make ropes and nets.[8]
-
Sea heart (Entada gigas) seeds
-
A canopy formed over lianas
-
Entada gigas seeds, resembling hearts
-
Botanical illustration from 1827
_seeds.jpg){kind=link}
_(8182069333).jpg){kind=link}
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Fibres. p.153. (2012). Niederlande: Prota Foundation.
External links
[edit | edit source]Lua error in Module:Taxonbar at line 165: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
