''Pentaclethra'' is a small
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of trees from the tropics. They are
flowering plant
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...
s in the family
. They belong to the
mimosoid clade of the subfamily
Caesalpinioideae.
The name ''Pentaclethra'' is derived from
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Dark Ages (), the Archaic peri ...
, ''penta'' meaning 'five', and ''cleithro'' meaning 'bolt', which alludes to the five imbricate
sepal
A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coined b ...
s and five
petal
Petals are modified Leaf, leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often advertising coloration, brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''c ...
s joined at the base, characteristic of this genus.
Species
''Pentaclethra'' is a small genus with three species.
It is considered basal to the mimosoid clade.
[ One species, ''P. macroloba'', occurs in the American tropics. This is the dominant tree in certain seasonal swamp forests in coastal areas of Atlantic ]Panama
Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a transcontinental country spanning the southern part of North America and the northern part of South America. It is bordered by Cos ...
. The other two species occur in Africa.[
''Pentaclethra,'' popularly known as ''ugba (''raw oil bean seeds'')'' in Africa, has great nutritional value. Proximate analysis of raw oil bean seed reveals that it is composed of proteins (36–42%), lipids (43–47%) and carbohydrates (4–17%) The high content of the essential amino acids makes the seed a potential source of protein.][Achinewhu, S. C. (1982). Chemical and nutrient composition of fermentedproducts from plant foods.Nig. Food J.1, 115–117.] Glutamic acid appears to be the largest amino acid contained in the seed and its fermented product. This could explain why pentaclethra (ugba) is often used as a flavoring agent for soups in southeastern Nigeria
Igboland ( Standard ), also known as Southeastern Nigeria (but extends into South-Southern Nigeria), is the indigenous homeland of the Igbo people.
It is a cultural and common linguistic region in southern Nigeria. Geographically, it is divided ...
.
*''Pentaclethra eetveldeana
''Pentaclethra'' is a small genus of trees from the tropics. They are flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. They belong to the mimosoid clade of the subfamily Caesalpinioideae.
The name ''Pentaclethra'' is derived from Ancient Greek, ''penta ...
'' De Wild. & T.Durand
*'' Pentaclethra macroloba'' (Willd.
Carl Ludwig Willdenow (22 August 1765 – 10 July 1812) was a German botanist, pharmacist, and plant taxonomist. He is considered one of the founders of phytogeography, the study of the geographic distribution of plants. Willdenow was al ...
) Kuntze Kuntze is a surname of German origin. People with that name include:
* Carl Kuntze (1922-2006), Dutch rower who competed at the 1952 Summer Olympics
* Edward J. Kuntze (1826-1870), Prussian-born American sculptor
* Otto Kuntze (1843-1907), German ...
*''Pentaclethra macrophylla
''Pentaclethra macrophylla'', also known as the African oil bean, tree is a large size tree with long bipinnate compound leaves that is endemic to West and Central Africa. It is within the family Fabaceae. Seeds of the species are prepared and fer ...
'' Benth.
George Bentham (22 September 1800 – 10 September 1884) was an English botanist, described by the weed botanist Duane Isely as "the premier systematic botanist of the nineteenth century". Born into a distinguished family, he initially studie ...
References
External links
Mimosoids
Fabaceae genera
{{Mimosoideae-stub