Crack Open

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Crack Open
• wild honeytree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Guidonia adstringens
• Samyda lancifolia
• Casearia albicaulis
• Casearia adamantium
• Casearia floribunda
• Chaetocrater reflexus
• Casearia reflexa
• Casearia parviflora var. microphylla
• Casearia parvifolia var. paraguariensis
• Casearia pavoniana
• Casearia micrantha
• Casearia nitida
• Samyda parvifolia
• Samyda decandra
• Anavinga parvifolia

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Casearia decandra, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Malpighiales and the family Salicaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic classification places it within the genus Casearia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several tropical regions. In Central America, it can be found growing in Honduras and Panamá. Its presence extends into the Caribbean, where it is located in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Additionally, the species is documented within the Leeward Islands. This widespread range highlights its adaptability across various island and mainland environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Casearia decandra is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse Brazilian biomes and a wide altitudinal gradient. This species is found across a broad spectrum of habitats, including the Caatinga (strictu sensu), Campo de Altitude, Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta Estacional Semi-decidual, Floresta Ombrófila (also known as Floresta Pluvial), and Restinga. Its distribution spans an elevational range starting from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 1750 m AMSL, demonstrating its capacity to thrive in both lowland coastal environments and high-altitude ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

1750 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Caatinga (stricto sensu), Campo de Altitude, Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Restinga

Life history

The life history of Casearia decandra is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its ecosystem through multiple growing seasons. Its seasonal development is marked by a deciduous nature, meaning it undergoes a period of leaf shedding, typically in response to specific environmental cues or seasonal changes. This cycle of growth and dormancy ensures its long-term survival and adaptation within its natural habitat.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Casearia decandra is characterized by a woody growth form that can manifest as either a shrub or a tree. As a self-supporting plant, it does not function as a climber (such as a liana or vine) nor does it exhibit epiphytic behavior, remaining strictly terrestrial in its habitat. It is an independent species that does not rely on parasitic relationships for survival. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant vertical development, with a mean height of approximately 8 meters, though it is capable of reaching a maximum height of up to 30 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

30 m

Plant height mean:

8 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Casearia decandra is characterized by a standard C3 photosynthetic pathway, wherein carbon fixation occurs primarily through the enzyme Rubisco during the Calvin cycle, a common metabolic strategy for plants inhabiting tropical and subtropical environments. In terms of nutrient cycling and symbiotic relationships, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized root nodules containing diazotrophic bacteria necessary to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms; instead, it relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil to satisfy its nitrogen requirements for protein synthesis and chlorophyll production.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Casearia decandra is characterized by specific morphological traits of its seeds and a specialized dispersal strategy. The plant produces seeds that exhibit high uniformity in size, with a consistent seed length of 6 mm (ranging from a minimum to a maximum of 6 mm) and a stable seed volume of 110 mm³. The mass of these seeds is equally uniform, maintaining a constant value of 0.15 g across the minimum, mean, and maximum measurements. Regarding its dispersal mechanism, the species follows a zoochorous syndrome, relying on animals for the movement of its reproductive units. While the broader category of dispersal for this taxon can include anemochorous, autochorous, hydrochorous, or unspecialized methods, the specific data for this plant emphasizes its zoochorous nature. Furthermore, the fruit associated with these seeds is classified as dry.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit dryness :

dry

Seed length mean:

6 mm

Seed mass mean:

0.15 g

Seed volume max:

110 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Casearia decandra has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine

Chemicals

Casearia decandra has 14 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Br-, CA, CO, CR, CS.

Br-

1. Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine

CA

1. Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine

CO

1. Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine

CR

1. Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine

CS

1. Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine

Cl-

1. Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine

FE

1. Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine

LA

1. Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine

MG

1. Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine

MN

1. Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine