Morphobiometry of Seedlings, Distribution, and Preliminary Conservation Status of Erythrina velutina Willd. (Fabaceae)ABSTRACT
Erythrina velutina Willd., commonly known as mulungu, is a native Brazilian tree widely used in landscaping and traditional medicine, valued for its ecological functions such as nitrogen fixation and drought resistance. This study aimed to characterize its seedling development, geographic distribution, and preliminary conservation status. Seedlings were observed for 75 days, displaying traits such as compound leaves, epicotyl with aculeus, and nitrogen-fixing root nodules. Geographic data from speciesLink revealed the tree’s occurrence in Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru, with its presence confirmed in biomes like the Caatinga, Cerrado, and Amazon. The conservation status was classified as Least Concern based on its extent of occurrence, but as Vulnerable regarding its area of occupancy. The study highlights the species’ importance for restoration projects and provides essential information for its identification and conservation, suggesting that its morphological traits are valuable for both in situ and ex situ recognition, as well as for management efforts.
Keywords:
biometry; conservation; Leguminosae; morphology; mulungu
RESUMO
Erythrina velutina Willd., conhecida como mulungu, é uma árvore nativa brasileira comumente usada em paisagismo e na medicina tradicional, valorizada por suas funções ecológicas, como fixação de nitrogênio e resistência à seca. Objetivou-se caracterizar o desenvolvimento das mudas, a distribuição geográfica e o status preliminar de conservação. As mudas foram observadas por 75 dias, apresentando características como folhas compostas, acúleos epicótilos e nódulos radiculares fixadores de nitrogênio. Os dados geográficos do speciesLink revelaram a ocorrência da árvore no Brasil, Equador e Peru, com a presença da espécie confirmada em biomas como a Caatinga, o Cerrado e a Amazônia. O status de conservação foi classificado como Menos preocupante com base em sua extensão de ocorrência, mas como Vulnerável em relação à sua área de ocupação. O estudo destaca a importância da espécie para projetos de restauração e fornece informações essenciais para sua identificação e conservação, sugerindo que suas características morfológicas são valiosas para o reconhecimento in situ e ex situ e para esforços de manejo.
Palavras-chave:
biometria; conservação; Leguminosae; morfologia; mulungu
Introduction
Erythrina velutina Willd., commonly known in Brazil as mulungu, is a tree native to the country that can reach up to 10 meters in height with a cylindrical, aculeate striate stem, varying in color from gray to dark brown, featuring pale grooves and legume-type fruits (Agra & Queiroz 2018).
This species is widely used in landscaping projects, particularly for urban arborization (Alvarez 2014, Mendonça et al. 2023). Additionally, it is employed in traditional medicine, with its bark being used as a sedative and to calm coughs, bronchitis, and whooping cough, as well as for the treatment of worms, hemorrhoids, and insomnia (Agra 2007, Agra & Queiroz 2018, Queiroz 2021). Its seeds contain the alkaloid erythrin, which has a potent effect on the neural system, potentially causing paralysis. When macerated, bark exhibits hypnotic and narcotic properties (Carvalho 2008).
Ecologically, the species stands out for its ability to fix nitrogen, its drought resistance, and its rapid germination. It is used in mixed plantings with pioneer and early successional species and is frequently selected for degraded area restoration programs (DARP) (Lorenzi 2002, Silva 2020). Knowledge of seed and seedling morphology in the early stages of development contributes both to systematics and ecology, providing essential information for differentiating species within the same genus, identifying plants in the field, as well as for seed storage, viability, and sowing methods (Andrade et al. 2006, Abreu et al. 2005).
The biometrics of seeds and seedlings is directly related to their characteristics and establishment in the environment, providing valuable data for identifying variability and environmental factors (Dutra et al. 2019). Biometric information on fruits, seeds, and seedlings also contributes to species differentiation (Silva et al. 2024), classification of ecological groups that can support genetic breeding programs (Gonçalves et al. 2013).
Therefore, it is essential to conduct studies on the morphological characteristics of E. velutina seedlings, as they allow for quick and practical identification in situ and ex situ in projects involving natural regeneration, scientific research, forest inventories, and DARP, distinguishing it from other morphologically similar species (Leão et al. 2016, Rodrigues et al. 2021).
Given the importance of this species, it is pertinent to conduct studies on its geographic distribution, as this is one of the key areas of interest in ecology. Such knowledge allows for important inferences about the evolutionary history of species and their ecological niches, as well as predicting how they will respond to future environmental changes (Ouahzizi et al. 2024). This information is crucial for the development of conservation strategies and the sustainable management of natural resources (Aguiar et al. 2021).
In addition to studies on geographic distribution, the conservation status of a species is crucial for identifying those at risk of extinction, contributing to the prevention of global biodiversity loss, which is essential for maintaining healthy and functional ecosystems (Dobson et al. 1997).
For this purpose, tools are used that provide data on species’ distribution range, population size, habitat quality, levels of fragmentation, and abundance trends, enabling the assessment of extinction risk (Schmidt et al. 2023). Among these tools, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List stands out. This widely used assessment is based on criteria such as extinction risk and conservation status, using the best available data on species diversity to evaluate demographic threats.
Given the above, this research aimed to characterize the morphometry and development of seedlings, geographic distribution, and preliminary conservation status of E. velutina in order to assist in the recognition of the species in the field at its early developmental stages and fill gaps regarding the ecological distribution of the species.
Material and methods
Study area - The Erythrina velutina Willd. seeds used for morphological characterization of the seedlings were collected from mother trees (24M 676273.91 9196522.60) at 817 m above sea level, close to the Pico do Jabre State Park (UCPJ) whose area is divided between the municipalities of Maturéia and Mãe D’água, in Paraíba State, Brazil (24M 678319.06 9197992.98), and botanical material was collected, dried and deposited in the CSTR Rita Baltazar de Lima Herbarium (Voucher 8139) (figure 1).
The region itself is favored by a high average annual rainfall (800 to 1,000 mm) due to its altitude, this relationship together with the orographic position and thermal conditions of the atmosphere contribute to the occurrence of orographic rains and humid microclimate in the area, justifying the occurrence of species of humid environments (Ramalho et al. 2009, Araújo 2012, Marques et al. 2018).
Pico do Jabre is the highest point in Paraíba, at 1,208 meters high, and is categorized as a state conservation unit, decreed by the State on October 19, 1992 at number 14,834. Situated in the interior of the Caatinga Paraibana hinterland, it is an area of vastly varied vegetation, as it has species that occur in the Atlantic Forest, among Inselbergs, in Semideciduous Montane Forest, Riparian Forest and the Caatinga biome itself (Agra et al. 2004).
Experimentation area - The study was conducted at the Rita Baltazar de Lima CSTR Forest Nursery and Herbarium of the Forestry Engineering Academic Unit at the Federal University of Campina Grande, located at the Rural Health and Technology Center, Campus Patos, Paraíba (PB). The seed processing and classification were performed manually. Subsequently, the seeds were stored in impermeable packaging under ambient conditions until sowing.
Evaluation of seedlings development, morphology and biometrics
For the study, 120 seeds were selected and sown in tubes with substrate in a 2:2:1 ratio of clay + sand + manure, kept in a greenhouse in a partially shaded environment (50% shade), and manual irrigation was carried out daily. Sowing took place on 01/12/2022. Eight assessments were established, alternating between pre-established days, where the first three readings were every five days, the next four were every 10 days and the last was every 20 days, totaling 5, 10, 15, 25, 35, 45, 55, 75.
In the evaluations, the morphological characterization of the seedlings was carried out following the terminology used for Fabaceae species (Gonçalves & Lorenzi 2011, Vidal et al. 2021, Harris & Harris 2000). For the subsequent preparation of the boards, photographs of the entire seedling and all observed characteristics were recorded.
Biometry was conducted alongside morphological analysis, evaluating the following parameters in the seedlings: the length of the main root, hypocotyl and epicotyl, as well as the size of first-order eophylls, using a graduated ruler (cm). The stem collar diameter, as well as the length, width, and thickness of the cotyledons, were measured using a caliper (mm).
Geographical distribution and preliminary conservation status
To evaluate the species’ geographical distribution, the speciesLink database was consulted, and a spreadsheet containing all taxon collections recorded on the platform was downloaded. The coordinates were filtered, excluding records identified as cultivated and those with incomplete location data, such as missing coordinates, city, or State. Using the open-source software QGIS 3.16.8, a distribution map was generated. The shapefile for Conservation Units in Brazil was obtained from the National Water Agency (ANA) and the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio). For the preliminary conservation status assessment, the same spreadsheet was used, and the GeoCAT - Geospatial Conservation Assessment Tool (http://geocat.kew.org/) - was applied, following the IUCN criteria (2024).
Results
Seedling development and biometrics - Five days after sowing, the main root already had an average length of 6.6 cm and a hypocotyl of 4.1 cm. It was only on the 10th day, after sowing, that there was measurable height and an epicotyl, where the average value of seedling height was 9.6 cm and the epicotyl was 4 cm (figure 2).
Average values of the parameters analyzed in Erythrina velutina Willd. (seedlings during readings).
There was variation in these values in the time range in which the seedlings grew and the readings took place. For height, values varied from 9.5 to 17.40 cm; for the main root, values ranged from 6.6 to 16.90 cm; the epicotyl had an initial value of 4 to 6 cm; for the hypocotyl, it was initially 4.1 cm, varying up to 5 cm.
Over time and in the evaluations, the growth of the seedling structures was noticeable, reaching the final evaluation at 75 days after sowing. The seedlings had an average value of 13, 14, 6 and 5 cm for seedling height, length of main root, epicotyl and hypocotyl length, respectively.
The secondary roots showed high development along the length of the entire main root, with an initial maximum value of 22 cm, in the evaluation on the 5th day, reaching a maximum value in the last evaluation, on the 75th day, with 275 secondary roots per root (figure 3).
The first order eophylls developed from the 10th day after sowing, and these were 3 cm long and 3.4 cm wide for one of the leaves, while the second leaf was 3.1 cm long, with a width of 3.5 cm. These values continued to grow throughout the evaluations, obtaining an average value for leaf one of 5.1 cm in length and 5.9 in width, and for the second leaf, the average value for length was 5.1 and width was 5.8, in the last evaluation at 75 days (figure 4).
The cotyledons emerged from the 5th day after sowing, at which point they presented an average length, width and thickness of 1.8, 1.0 and 0.6 cm, respectively, for one of the cotyledons. The second cotyledon had an average value for the length of 2.0 cm, width of 0.9 cm and thickness of 0.5 cm. The cotyledons were only evaluated up to the 35th day, as on the 45th day the cotyledons had already lost their reserves, causing them to fall. The first cotyledon had a minimum and maximum length of 0.41 cm and 1.8 cm, width of 0.5 and 1 cm and thickness of 04 and 0.6 cm, and the second cotyledon had a minimum and maximum length of 0.2 cm and 2.2 cm, width of 0.5 and 1 cm and thickness of 0.4 and 0.6 cm.
With the five evaluations, where cotyledons were present, an average value was obtained for the first cotyledon for length, width and thickness of 1.4 cm, 0.8 cm and 0.5 cm, respectively, and for the second cotyledon the average length was 1.7 cm, width 0.8 cm and thickness 0.5 cm. (figure 5).
Seedling morphology and development - Five days after sowing, the seedlings emerged with a well-formed main root (6.6 cm), hypocotyl with a cylindrical shape, glabrous and with color forming a gradient from white to green. When close to the main root the hypotcotyl was white, and when it got closer to the cotyledons it turned green. The exposed cotyledons were of the phanerocotyledonary type, with epigeal germination, with reserves, entire, green in color, sessile, with a rounded apex and base, with a leathery texture (figure 6 b).
Emergence and development of the Erythrina velutina Willd. seedling. a. General view of the seed. b. Seedling emergence. c. Expansion of cotyledons. d. Complete formation of the first pair of eophylls. e-f. Seedling with expansion of the first pair of eophylls and emergence of metaphylls (transition from seedling-to-seedling phase). g-i. Expansion of metaphylls and growth in height of the aerial part and root system.
Ten days after sowing, the seedlings also had cylindrical epicotyls, green and glabrous, and first order eophylls were forming (figure 6 c). The third evaluation (15 days after sowing) showed the development of the apical meristem and the presence of the first pair of eophylls, which behave like simple, opposite, petiolate leaves (2.9 cm), interpetiolar stipulation and absence of odor, exudation and extrafloral nectaries (figure 6 d).
25 days after sowing, the presence of a velutine indumentum and the development of a compound leaf (metaphyll) were observed in the apical meristem (figure 6 e). In the fifth evaluation, 35 days after sowing, the metaphylls were already well-developed, trifoliate, petiolate with the presence of aculeus-shaped cat’s claw, and epicotyl growth, which exhibited star-shaped trichomes (figure 6 f).
In the sixth evaluation, 45 days after sowing, the cotyledons fell off as they had already lost their activity for the seedlings. It was also observed the presence of aculeus formation throughout the epicotyl, with light green coloration, and alongside these, there was an increase in star-shaped trichomes, intensification of the velvety indumentum in the apical meristem, and in the main root with root nodulation, evidencing the presence of nitrogen-fixing bacteria (Rhizobium) (figure 6 g).
In the seventh evaluation (55 days after sowing), the seedlings’ stem was intensely developing in diameter, the color of the hypocotyl and half of the epicotyl showed a more whitish color, and it was close to the apical meristem that the green color still remained (figure 6 h). In the eighth and final evaluation (75 days after sowing), the seedlings showed seven units of metaphylls, with many aculeus already well developed on the epicotyl, rigid and dark brown in color, presence of aculeus on the petiole and petiole of the metaphylls (figure 6 i).
The E. velutina seedlings had a cylindrical hypocotyl, glabrous and colored from white to greenish, forming a color gradient that initially is white when close to the main root and when approaching the cotyledons changing to green. The cylindrical epicotyl, green in color, had a velutinous indument with stellate trichomes and rigid brown aculeus. Initially it had simple leaves (first pair of eophylls), and later the true leaf (metaphylls) showed interpetiolar stipules. The apical meristem of the seedlings presented a velutine indumentum (figure 7 a).
The first order eophylls are simple leaves, with opposite phyllotaxis couplets, glabrous, petiolate with 1.4 cm for petiole one and 1.5 cm for petiole two. Oval leaves, entire margins, obtuse apex, chordate base, with membranous texture and predominant green color, and their venation is actinodromous, with a protrusion on the abaxial surface (figure 7 b).
The metaphylls are compound, trifoliate, with alternating spiral phyllotaxis, petiolate with the presence of one to three cat’s claw-like aculeus. Ovate leaflet, actinodromous and prominent nerves on the abaxial surface, entire edge, rounded base, obtuse apex, with cartaceous texture, green color, thin interpetiolar stipule, absence of trichomes, exudation and odor (figure 7 c).
Geographical distribution and preliminary conservation status
The filtering of unwanted data resulted in a total of 334 coordinates, which, when compiled, indicated the occurrence of the taxon in three countries: Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru. In Brazil, the species is found in the Amazon, Caatinga, Cerrado, and Atlantic Forest. Notably, in the northeastern semi-arid region, the species is commonly associated with watercourses, wet floodplains, and especially along the margins of temporary rivers. This indicates an expansion of the species’ distribution within Brazilian territory, particularly in States dominated by the Amazon and Atlantic Forest biomes (figure 8).
Additionally, the preliminary conservation status of the taxon was categorized as Least Concern (LC), according to IUCN criteria B1ab (2024), with an Extent of Occurrence (EOO) of 7,899,544.969 km².
Discussion
The occurrence of the taxon studied in these countries is supported by the research of Bean (2008). However, its presence in Brazil’s phytogeographic domains has expanded, no longer being restricted to the Caatinga and Cerrado, as previously reported in the distribution proposed by Sales et al. (1998), Queiroz (2021), and Martins (2024).
Given the potential of this taxon and the absence of a formal conservation status, it is crucial to categorize the species in terms of its conservation status, even if only preliminarily. This categorization is essential to support managers and stakeholders in the planning and implementation of appropriate strategies for sustainable management, conservation, and protection, thereby preventing a potential population decline that could lead the species to shift from the Least Concern (LC) category to one of the threatened categories (Vulnerable - VU, Endangered - EN, or Critically Endangered - CR).
Erythrina velutina Willd. is predominantly distributed within the Caatinga biome, where the presence of conservation units (either already established or under implementation) provides protected natural environments for the species’ populations. This protection helps mitigate excessive exploitation and other harmful anthropogenic activities. The species’ occurrence has been documented through previous floristic surveys, such as those conducted in the Pico do Jabre State Park (Cunha & Júnior 2018), Serra de Itabaiana National Park (Silva et al. 2019), and areas of high biological significance (Fernando et al. 2022).
The intense exploitation of forest resources and anthropogenic activities occurring in the Caatinga, its primary area of occupancy and distribution, have transformed the landscape into large areas for agribusiness, which could lead to a decline in the populations of this taxon in the region, placing the species in categories of greater vulnerability (Ribeiro et al. 2015, Barreto-Garcia et al. 2021).
Moreover, when combined with climate change, which has altered the physiological conditions of species, the situation worsens. A study conducted by Oliveira et al. (2019) on environmental stress, climate change, and seed germination in Myracrodruon urundeuva, another species found in the Caatinga, concluded that the scarcity of rainfall will negatively affect the propagation of this species within the biome, as both seed germination and the initial development of seedlings will be compromised.
The results corroborate the study by Lobo et al. (2014), in which they state that phanerocotyledonary germination is common among tree species in Brazil, such as E. velutina. In the literature, other legume species are also described with phanerocotylar epigeal germination, as observed in the work of Leitão et al. (2024) with Piptadenia retusa (Jacq.) P.G.Ribeiro, Seigler & Ebinger, Mimosa ophthalmocentra Mart. ex Benth., and Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) Poir.; Lima et al. (2022) with Chamaecrista flexuosa (L.) Greene, Desmodium barbatum (L.) Benth., and Stylosanthes viscosa(L.) Sw.; Cunha et al. (2020) describing Anadenanthera macrocarpa (Benth.) Brenan; and Barreto and Ferreira (2011) with Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan and Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong.
In the study by Silva et al. (2008), the morphology of the taxon’s seedling under laboratory conditions is described, with results showing persistence of the seed coat and radicle emergence after five days, although the hypocotyl was only observed later. In contrast, in the present study, this structure was observed earlier, suggesting that the seed vigor conditions of the samples used in each experiment may have been at different potentials.
It is important to highlight that the lengths obtained in the studies are quite similar. Five days after sowing, a length of 4.1 cm was recorded, while in the study by Silva et al. (2008), a value of 5 cm was obtained on the sixth day. Another relevant point is that, starting from 15 days after sowing, the seedling lengths diverged, with the present study recording a length of 22.20 cm, whereas the authors reported 20 cm.
Furthermore, with a study by Matheus et al. (2007), analyzing the morphology of Erythrina variegata L. seedlings, carried out in the State of Espírito Santo, the color of the cotyledons was observed to be predominantly yellowish white. In the present study, for E. velutina, the color was green, an important characteristic to highlight, as it can assist in distinguishing these species during seedling production, both in seedbeds and in containers.
Species with accelerated germination are normally phanerocotyledonous seedlings with their first pair of leaves being simple (Gogosz et al. 2015). This pattern is observed in the data obtained in this study. However, in E. velutina, developmental monitoring reveals the presence of heterophylly, with the appearance of trifoliate leaves at the evaluation conducted 25 days after sowing.
The presence of nodules associated with the main root of seedlings is frequently cited in the literature on Fabaceae, especially in tree species of the family, which helps in better growth conditions, expansion of their root system, exploration of larger soil areas, and water uptake, besides improving the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the soil (Agra & Queiroz 2018). Therefore, the importance of species such as E. velutina in projects for the recovery of degraded areas is reinforced.
With the longer experimental period in this study (75 days), it was possible to observe the development of E. velutina over a more extended period, allowing the identification of the emergence of aculeus on the epicotyl at different stages, the presence of rhizobial nodulation on the taproot, the lignification of the hypocotyl with the appearance of longitudinal striations, as well as the classification of stellate trichomes. In contrast, the study by Silva et al. (2008) was concluded after 50 days of experimentation, which prevented the observation of these important stages and structures. It is also important to note that these biometric variations are related to the distinct edaphoclimatic conditions in the two experiments, as Silva et al. (2008) conducted the study in a laboratory, while the present study was carried out in a forest nursery.
The morphological and biometric aspects analyzed in E. velutina seedlings are consistent, making them useful for both in situ and ex situ recognition, as well as for the taxonomic identification of this species. These data also contribute to studies in silviculture and the ecology of natural regeneration, due to the ease and speed of species recognition. Furthermore, the preliminary conservation status provides valuable information about the populations and distribution of the taxon in Brazil, enabling authorities to make informed decisions regarding its protection. This assessment also documents the species’ occurrence in existing conservation units and supports the creation of future units in biologically important areas for conservation.
Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to the Rita Baltazar de Lima CSTR Forest Nursery and Herbarium at the Universidade Federal de Campina Grande located at the Centro de Saúde e Tecnologia Rural, Patos Campus, for providing the environment and materials for the study.
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Data availability statement
The dataset is contained within the manuscript itself.
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How to cite:
Oliveira, C. H. S., Fernando, E. M. P., Nonato, E. R. L., Santos, F. D. S., Macena, R. A. & Queiroz, R. T. 2026. Morphobiometry of Seedlings, Distribution, and Preliminary Conservation Status of Erythrina velutina Willd. (Fabaceae). Hoehnea 53: e212024, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1590/2236-8906e212024.
The dataset is contained within the manuscript itself.
