soncoya

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• soncoya
• negrohead
• sincuya

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Annona prestoei
• Annona manirote
• Annona involucrata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and falls under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae and order Magnoliales, it is classified under the family Annonaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Annona.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several distinct regions of Mexico. It can be found spanning from the central areas to the coastal stretches of the Mexico Gulf. Additionally, its presence extends into the Mexico Southwest and the Mexico Southeast territories. Beyond the borders of Mexico, the species is also documented within the Central American nation of Belize. Together, these locations highlight the diverse tropical habitats where the species thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Annona purpurea is characterized by its distribution across a diverse altitudinal gradient, thriving in environments ranging from sea level up to an elevation of 1000 m AMSL. This broad elevational range suggests an adaptability to various tropical and subtropical ecological zones, allowing it to colonize habitats from lowland coastal regions to mid-elevation montane settings. Within these zones, the plant typically occupies niches defined by specific moisture availability and soil compositions, often integrating into forest edges or secondary growth areas where light penetration is sufficient for its developmental needs. Its ability to persist from 0 m to 1000 m AMSL indicates a physiological resilience to varying temperature regimes and atmospheric pressures common across these different topographical levels.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Annona purpurea is characterized by its existence as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a stable presence in its habitat. As a deciduous species, it undergoes periodic seasonal changes where it sheds its foliage, a process often synchronized with environmental cues such as dry periods or temperature fluctuations to manage water loss and resource allocation. This cycle of regrowth and dormancy defines its long-term survival strategy, enabling the plant to maintain its physiological functions over many years.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Annona purpurea is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically manifesting as a tree. It is a terrestrial plant that grows independently, without any parasitic tendencies. The structure is self-supporting rather than acting as a climber, liana, or vine. In terms of stature, the plant reaches a mean height of approximately 8 meters, though it can attain a maximum height of up to 12 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

12 m

Plant height mean:

8 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Annona purpurea is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits a Specific Leaf Area (SLA) with a mean value of 363.913 cm²/g, indicating a relatively high leaf area relative to its dry mass, which influences its light interception capabilities and water-use efficiency. Furthermore, Annona purpurea does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available soil nitrogen rather than symbiotic atmospheric nitrogen fixation to meet its nutritional requirements.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

363.913 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Annona purpurea is centered around the production and dispersal of its seeds, which exhibit highly consistent physical characteristics essential for its life cycle. The seeds produced by this species maintain a remarkably uniform size and weight, with a recorded seed mass mean of 0.897 g. This uniformity is reflected in the extreme narrowness of its weight distribution, as both the maximum and minimum observed seed mass values are identical at 0.897 g. Such consistency in seed mass suggests a stabilized reproductive strategy where the energy investment per propagule is strictly regulated, ensuring that each seed possesses a standardized amount of resources to support early germination and seedling establishment.

Seed mass mean:

0.897 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Annona purpurea has 3 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, seed, stem.

Leaf

1. Phytochemistry
2. Journal of natural products

Seed

1. Journal of natural products
2. Phytochemistry

Stem

1. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Annona purpurea has 24 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (+)-Predicentrine, (-)-Glaucine, BETA-SITOSTEROL, Glaziovine, Lirinidine.

(+)-Predicentrine

1. Journal of natural products

(-)-Glaucine

1. Journal of natural products

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Journal of natural products

Glaziovine

1. Journal of natural products

Lirinidine

1. Phytochemistry

N-Methylasimilobine

1. Phytochemistry

N-Methyllaurotetanine

1. Phytochemistry

NORPURPUREINE

1. Phytochemistry

OXOPURPUREINE

1. Journal of natural products

Oxoglaucine

1. Journal of natural products

Activities

Annona purpurea has 1 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic.

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Phytochemistry

Preparations

Annona purpurea has 1 reported preparations identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include MeOH extract of stems.

Meoh extract of stems

1. Journal of natural products