Cenostigma pyramidale
StarCenostigma pyramidale
Synonyms: Caesalpinia pyramidalis var. alagoensis, Caesalpinia pyramidalis, Poincianella pyramidalis
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
In the traditional folk medicine of the Brazilian Caatinga, catingueira is widely used: the inner bark is macerated in wine or cachaca and taken for gastrointestinal complaints such as diarrhoea and stomach ache, while teas, juices and syrups made from the leaves and flowers are used for coughs, bronchitis, flu and other respiratory ailments and for general inflammation (Soares et al., 2020). Pharmacological studies of the species confirm anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and antimicrobial activity, attributed to its tannin- and flavonoid-rich tissues (Santana et al., 2020).
Botanical Description
Cenostigma pyramidale (syn. Caesalpinia pyramidalis, Poincianella pyramidalis), known in Brazil as catingueira, is a deciduous tree or shrub of the legume family Fabaceae and one of the most characteristic plants of the Caatinga dry woodland of north-eastern Brazil. In humid sites it grows as a tree 4 to 8 metres tall (occasionally to 10 m) with a low, rounded crown, but in the harshest semi-arid areas it is reduced to a shrub under 2 metres. The bipinnate, bijugate leaves bear 5 to 11 alternate, oblong, leathery leaflets covered in dark stellate hairs; the foliage is browsed early in the rainy season but later develops an unpleasant smell. Showy yellow flowers are produced in racemes from about January to May and again in November and December. It occurs across the Caatinga and adjacent Amazonian domains of northern and north-eastern Brazil.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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