Common Names: Corpse awakener, Puerto Rican calliandra
Local Names: Tude, ule, Oga, Mbuceioro
Species ID: NMP-016 | wfo-0000173871 |

Kingdom: Plantae

Clade: Angiosperms

Clade: Eudicots

Order: Fabales

Family: Fabaceae

Genus: Calliandra

Species: C. portoricensis

Synonyms: Calliandra haematocephala (horticultural misidentification),  Anneslia portoricensis Britton

A semi-deciduous shrub reaching 2–4 m height. Key features include:

·       Leaves: Bipinnate (10–20 cm), 4–6 pairs of pinnae with 10–20 pairs of oblong leaflets (5–8 mm × 2–3 mm)

·       Flowers: Globose inflorescences (3–5 cm diameter) with 50–100 exerted crimson stamens (3–4 cm long)

·       Bark: Smooth gray-brown with lenticels

·       Fruit: Linear dehiscent pods (6–10 cm × 1 cm) containing 6–8 lenticular seeds

Native to Puerto Rico (18°N, 66°W) with introduced populations in:

·       Greater Antilles: Hispaniola, Jamaica (500–1,200 m elevation)

·       Central America: Honduras to Panama (humid tropical forests)

·       Cultivation: Widely grown in botanical gardens (USDA zones 10–12)

Prefers well-drained lateritic soils (pH 5.5–6.5) with annual rainfall of 1,500–3,000 mm.

·       Anticonvulsant: Extracts from the root and stem have demonstrated anticonvulsant properties in experimental models. Ethanolic root extract (300 mg/kg) reduces seizure duration by 78% in pentylenetetrazole models (Akah & Nwaiwu, 1988)

·       Antisickling: Studies have indicated that leaf extracts possess antisickling activity, which may be beneficial in managing sickle cell anemia. Leaf aqueous extract inhibits hemoglobin polymerization by 82% at 1 mg/ml (Amujoyegbe et al., 2014)

·       Antiproliferative: Root methanol extract induces apoptosis in LNCaP prostate cancer cells (IC₅₀ 45 μg/ml) (Adaramoye et al., 2015)

·       Antioxidant: DPPH radical scavenging activity of 89% at 100 μg/ml concentration

·       Antipyretic and Analgesic Uses: The plant is employed in managing fever and pain relief.

·       Antidiarrheal and Antispasmodic Effects: Leaf extracts are utilized for their antidiarrheal and antispasmodic properties

·       Anti-inflammatory: Extracts from some species have shown anti-inflammatory effects

⚠  Toxicity Profile

Contains unidentified neurotoxic alkaloids – LD₅₀ of leaf extract in mice: 1.2 g/kg (Aguwa & Lawal, 1988). Chronic use may potentiate barbiturate effects. Contraindicated in pregnancy due to uterine stimulant activity.

·       Pollinator Support: Flowers produce 1.5–2.0 μl nectar/day (45% sucrose) attracting Euglossa bees

·       Soil Improvement: Root nodules fix 12–18 kg N/ha/year

·       Cultural: Taíno tribes used seed pods in ritual rattles

1. Adaramoye, O. A., et al. (2015). Anticancer activities of C. portoricensis. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 13(5), 388–396. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2095-4964(15)60175-3
2. Aguwa, C. N., & Lawal, A. M. (1988). Pharmacological studies on leaf extracts. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 22(1), 63–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-8741(88)90231-0
3. Akah, P. A., & Nwaiwu, J. I. (1988). Anticonvulsant activity of root extracts. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 22(2), 205–210. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-8741(88)90128-6
4. Amujoyegbe, O. O., et al. (2014). Antisickling properties. African Journal of Traditional Medicine, 11(5), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.4314/ajtcam.v11i5.1

1. Green Institute Profile
2. JSTOR Herbarium
3. Cultivation Guide
4. Tropicos Database

• Triacontanyl caffeate
• Spinasterone
• Neurolenin B
• Daucosterol
• 9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid
• Nigrosporolide
• 3β- lup-20(29)-en-3ol (Lupeol)

1. Ogbole, O. O., Segun, P. A., & Adeniji, A. J. (2017). In vitro cytotoxic activity of medicinal plants from Nigeria ethnomedicine on Rhabdomyosarcoma cancer cell line and HPLC analysis of active extracts. BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 17(1), 1-10.

2. Nvau, J. B., Saidu, S. B., Okonkwo, F. O., Gray, A. I., & Igoli, J. O. (2020). Isolation and identification of phytochemical constituents from the roots of Calliandra portoricensis. Ife Journal of Science, 22(2), 095-101.