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| Guilandina bonduc | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Caesalpinioideae |
| Genus: | Guilandina |
| Species: | G. bonduc
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| Binomial name | |
| Guilandina bonduc | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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14 synonyms
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Guilandina bonduc, commonly known as nicker nut amongst other names, is a species of flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae that has a mostly pantropical distribution. It is a scrambling, thorny shrub or vine that is mostly found close to coastlines, and was first described in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus.
Description
[edit]Guilandina bonduc grows as a scrambling shrub or climber, up to 8 m (30 ft) long. The stems are irregularly covered with curved prickles. The leaves are large and bi-pinnate, up to 40 cm (16 in) long with scattered prickles on the rachises and blades. There are four to eleven pairs of pinnae, 5 to 20 cm (2 to 8 in) long with five to ten pairs of pinnules. The pinnules are 15 to 40 mm (0.6 to 1.6 in) long, elliptic, oblong or ovate with acute tips and entire margins.[3][4]
The inflorescence is an axillary raceme, often branched, covered with short hairs and up to 15 cm (6 in) long. The jointed pedicels are up to 6 mm (0.2 in) long. The sepals are shorter than the petals which are around 10 mm (0.4 in) long; the petals are yellow, sometimes with a spot of orange near the base of the keel. The unisexual flowers are followed by large, flattish, spiny green pods which later turn brown, some 9 by 4 cm (4 by 2 in), containing one or usually two, glossy, rounded, grey seeds.[3][4]
Its 2 cm (0.8 in) grey seeds are buoyant and durable enough to be dispersed by ocean currents.[5][6]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]Guilandina bonduc occurs in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, and is present on all continents except Antarctica.[2] It typically grows near the coast, in scrub, on sand dunes and on the upper shore.[7] It also occurs inland, in lowland secondary forest and disturbed areas near villages; this may be the result of the seed being accidentally dropped after being transported for medical purposes or for use as counters in board games. The seeds are buoyant and retain their viability in both fresh and sea water, enabling them to disperse to new coastal locations.[8] When washed up on the shore, they are sometimes known as sea pearls.[9]
Taxonomy
[edit]This plant was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his book Species plantarum, published in 1753.[2][10] For a time some authorities accepted the name Caesalpinia bonduc which was proposed by Scottish botanist William Roxburgh in 1824, but that has been synonymised with G. bonduc.[11][12]
Common names
[edit]Due to its wide distribution in many countries and cultures, this plant has numerous common names. These include gray nicker,[13] grey nicker, grey nickerbean, yellow nickers, nicker nut, wait-a-while,[14] bonduc and nivi-nivi,[15] along with numerous others.[16]
Uses
[edit]Nodules on the plant's roots contain symbiotic bacteria that fix nitrogen. This is used as a nutrient by the vine and also benefits other plants growing in close proximity.[8] It is a popular local ornamental plant in Malaysia.[17]
This plant has been used in traditional medicine. The seeds have tonic and antipyretic properties and the bark and leaves have been used likewise. The root can be pounded to remedy caterpillar stings, it can be boiled and its broth drank to regulate menstruation.[18]: 196 An oil extracted from the seeds has been used in cosmetics and for treating discharges from the ear.[19]
Tongans make the hard seeds (talatala 'amoa) into leis or play with them like marbles; its spiky leaves and stems are used in fruit bat snares.[4]
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Habit -
Branches with thorns and stipules -
Flowers & immature fruit -
Opened pods with seeds -
Seeds
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References
[edit]- ^ Bachman, S. (2018). "Guilandina bonduc". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018 e.T65899567A122396032. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T65899567A122396032.en. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Guilandina bonduc L." POWO. Plants of the World Online, facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2026. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
- ^ a b "Guilandina bonduc". Native Plants: Hawaii. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
- ^ a b c Whistler, Art (2011). The Rare Plants of Tonga (PDF). Tonga Trust Ltd. pp. 89–90.
- ^ Nelson, Gil (1996). The Shrubs and Woody Vines of Florida: a Reference and Field Guide. Pineapple Press Inc. pp. 177–178. ISBN 978-1-56164-110-9.
- ^ Cody, Martin L. (2006). Plants on Islands: Diversity and Dynamics on a Continental Archipelago. University of California Press. p. 161. ISBN 978-0-520-24729-1.
- ^ "Guilandina bonduc L." Flora of Mozambique. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ a b Fern, Ken. "Guilandina bonduc". Useful tropical plants. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ "Gray Nickarbean or Sea Pearl". A Sea-Bean Guide. Archived from the original on 25 December 2008. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ Linnaeus, Carol (1753). Species plantarum (in Latin). Stockholm: Laurentii Salvii. p. 381.
- ^ B. Wiecek; S. McCune (1998). "Caesalpinia bonduc (L.) Roxb". PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
- ^ "Caesalpinia bonduc (L.) Roxb". POWO. Plants of the World Online, facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2026. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
- ^ "Guilandina bonduc (L.) Roxb". Flora and Fauna Web. Singapore Government. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
- ^ F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Guilandina bonduc". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
- ^ "Guilandina bonduc". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
- ^ "Caesalpinia bonduc (L.) Roxb". Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
- ^ Lee Shin Shin; Aziah Muhamad; Joanne Tong (2015). Mangrove Guidebook for Malaysia. Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia: Wetlands International, Malaysia. p. 85. ISBN 978-983-42276-6-1.
- ^ Burkill, Isaac Henry; Mohamad Haniff (April 1930). "Malay Village Medicine: prescriptions collected by I.H. Burkill and Mohamad Haniff". The Gardens' Bulletin; Straits Settlements. 6 (3 (part 2)): 165–273.
- ^ "Fever nut". Flowers of India. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Guilandina bonduc at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Guilandina bonduc at Wikispecies- Dressler, S.; Schmidt, M. & Zizka, G. (2014). "Caesalpinia bonduc". African plants – a Photo Guide. Frankfurt/Main: Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg.
