Bocconia arborea

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Ranunculales and the family Papaveraceae. Finally, it is specifically identified by its genus, Bocconia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution spanning across two distinct continents. In West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found growing in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its range extends to North America, specifically within the diverse regions of Mexico. Within the Mexican territory, it is located in Mexico Central as well as the Northeast area. Furthermore, the species is also documented to inhabit the Gulf region of Mexico.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Bocconia arborea is characterized by its nature as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over many years rather than completing its cycle in a single season. As a long-lived woody plant, it undergoes continuous growth and development, establishing a stable presence within its ecological niche. This perennial lifecycle enables the plant to invest significant energy into robust structural development and reproductive maturity, ensuring its long-term survival through various seasonal shifts and environmental fluctuations.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Bocconia arborea is characterized by a woody growth form, primarily manifesting as a tree that can also exhibit shrub-like qualities. It is a self-supporting, independent species that does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a terrestrial existence. The plant typically reaches a mean height of approximately 5.75 m, establishing a robust physical structure within its habitat.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

5.75 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Bocconia arborea is characterized by a standard metabolic framework typical of many tropical woody species. It utilizes a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which involves the direct fixation of carbon dioxide through the enzyme Rubisco during the Calvin cycle, a process optimized for the moist, shaded, or semi-shaded environments in which it typically thrives. Furthermore, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria (such as Rhizobium or Frankia) required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, and instead relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the surrounding soil substrate to satisfy its nutritional requirements.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Bocconia arborea is characterized by the production of seeds that exhibit specific morphological variations in weight. The seed mass within a population fluctuates according to a defined range, with a minimum recorded mass of 0.008 g and a maximum mass reaching up to 0.01778 g. On average, the seed mass for this species is approximately 0.01289 g, a metric that plays a critical role in its dispersal and establishment processes within its natural habitat.

Seed mass max:

0.01778 g

Seed mass mean:

0.01289 g

Seed mass min:

0.008 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Bocconia arborea has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem.

Leaf

1. Archives of medical research

Stem

1. Archives of medical research

Chemicals

Bocconia arborea has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Dihydrosanguinarine, Angoline, Bocconarborine A, Dihydrochelerythrine, alpha-Allocryptopine.

Dihydrosanguinarine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Fitoterapia
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Angoline

1. Fitoterapia

Bocconarborine A

1. Fitoterapia

Dihydrochelerythrine

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

alpha-Allocryptopine

1. Dr. Duke

chelerythrine

1. Dr. Duke

protopine

1. Dr. Duke

protopine N-oxide

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Bocconia arborea has 49 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include 12-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor, 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor, Abortifacient, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor, Amphicholeretic.

12-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Amphicholeretic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiacetylcholinesterase

1. Dr. Duke

Antiaggregant

1. Dr. Duke

Antiarrhythmic

1. Dr. Duke

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Bocconia arborea has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Candida albicans, infectious diseases.

Candida albicans

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Infectious diseases

1. Archives of medical research

Preparations

Bocconia arborea has 2 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include chloroformic extract of leaves and stems, dichloromethanic and methanolic extracts from the bark.

Chloroformic extract of leaves and stems

1. Archives of medical research

Dichloromethanic and methanolic extracts from the bark

1. Fitoterapia