Amadesiac

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Amadesiac
• Buck Root
• Buckroot Amadesiac
• Kakanga Root
• David's milkberry
• David's-root
• Davisroot
• West Indian snowberry
• milkberry
• West Indian milkberry

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Chiococca brachiata var. acuminata
• Chiococca brachiata var. grandifolia
• Chiococca brachiata var. valida
• Chiococca densifolia
• Chiococca brachiata var. densifolia
• Chiococca brachiata var. conjungens
• Chiococca alba var. micrantha
• Chiococca brachiata var. intercedens
• Chiococca brachiata var. biformis
• Chiococca alba f. pilosa
• Chiococca brachiata var. intermedia
• Chiococca brachiata var. tenuifolia
• Chiococca brachiata var. diplomorpha
• Chiococca brachiata var. rigidula
• Chiococca pubescens var. peninsularis
• Chiococca brachiata var. acutifolia
• Chiococca anguifuga var. pubescens
• Chiococca brachiata var. microphylla
• Chiococca racemosa var. cubensis
• Chiococca brachiata var. subrhombea
• Chiococca brachiata var. lanceolata
• Chiococca racemosa var. jacquiniana
• Chiococca brachiata var. petiolaris
• Chiococca bermudiana
• Chiococca racemosa var. laxiflora
• Chiococca brachiata
• Chiococca racemosa var. yucatana
• Chiococca capitata
• Chiococca trisperma var. angustifolia
• Chiococca densifolia var. cubensis
• Chiococca floridana
• Chiococca latifolia
• Chiococca macrocarpa
• Chiococca micrantha
• Chiococca petensis
• Chiococca racemosa var. floridana
• Chiococca racemosa var. longifolia
• Chiococca racemosa var. scandens
• Chiococca pubescens
• Chiococca trisperma

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Gentianaales, it is classified under the family Rubiaceae and is specifically identified by the genus Chiococca.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several key regions in North America. In the South-Central United States, its presence is noted within the state of Texas. Moving toward the Southeastern United States, the species can be found in Florida. Its range extends significantly into Mexico, covering the Central and Northeastern territories. Additionally, the plant is distributed throughout the Gulf region of Mexico.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Chiococca alba is characterized by its adaptability to a diverse range of vertical strata, spanning an elevational range from 0 m to a maximum of 2440 m AMSL. This species is primarily found occupying specialized niches, including bosque bajo located on saturated soil, as well as within the distinct ecosystems of cerrado and peatbogs. These habitats indicate a preference for environments that range from lowland wetlands to high-altitude scrublands, often where soil moisture levels are consistently high.

Elevational range max:

2440 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Bosque bajo on saturated soil, cerrado, peatbogs

Life history

The life history of Chiococca alba is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its long-term presence within its ecological niche. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its buds well above the ground, typically growing as a woody shrub or small tree. Its vegetative structure is further defined by its evergreen nature, allowing it to retain its foliage throughout the seasons rather than undergoing a deciduous period. Depending on its specific environmental context and growth habit, it may also exhibit characteristics of a nanophanerophyte, reflecting its diverse structural adaptations within its habitat.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Chiococca alba is characterized by a woody structure with a growth form primarily categorized as a shrub. It typically reaches an average plant height of approximately 6 m. This species functions as a terrestrial plant, neither aquatic nor semiaquatic, and is not an epiphyte. In terms of its climbing habits, it can exhibit the characteristics of a liana while also possessing the ability to be self-supporting. Furthermore, it is an independent organism, lacking any parasitic nature.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

6 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Chiococca alba is characterized by its metabolic processes and nutrient acquisition strategies within its tropical or subtropical habitats. As a woody shrub or small tree, its physiological framework supports growth through efficient photosynthetic pathways adapted to high-light environments. Regarding its interaction with soil nutrients and the nitrogen cycle, the plant does not possess the specialized symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into organic forms; therefore, it is not a nitrogen fixer. Consequently, its nitrogen assimilation is entirely dependent on the uptake of available nitrates and ammonium ions from the soil through its root system. Its physiological regulation involves maintaining osmotic balance and water potential to support transpiration and nutrient transport, ensuring that metabolic activities remain stable under varying environmental conditions.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Chiococca alba is characterized by a specialized dispersal strategy and specific seed morphological traits. The plant produces fleshy fruits, indicating a dispersal syndrome that is primarily zoochorous, although it may also involve anemochorous, autochorous, hydrochorous, or unspecialized mechanisms. The seeds produced are highly uniform in volume, maintaining a consistent measurement of 20 mm³ (with both minimum and maximum values reaching this exact figure). In terms of mass, the seeds exhibit slight variability, with a minimum mass of 0.00583 g and a maximum mass of 0.01463 g, resulting in an average seed mass of approximately 0.01023 g.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Seed mass max:

0.01463 g

Seed mass mean:

0.01023 g

Seed mass min:

0.00583 g

Seed volume max:

20 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Chiococca alba has 14 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CD, CO, CR, CU, FE.

CD

1. BioMed research international

CO

1. BioMed research international

CR

1. BioMed research international

CU

1. BioMed research international

FE

1. BioMed research international

Flavonoids

1. DNA research : an international journal for rapid publication of reports on genes and genomes

Merilactone

1. DNA research : an international journal for rapid publication of reports on genes and genomes

PB

1. BioMed research international

Ribenone

1. DNA research : an international journal for rapid publication of reports on genes and genomes

Tannins

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Chiococca alba has 23 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Allergenic, Anaphrodisiac, Antiinflammatory, Antioxidant.

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Anaphrodisiac

1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke

Antipyretic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiradicular

1. Dr. Duke

Antirheumatalgic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiseptic

1. Dr. Duke

Antitartar

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Chiococca alba has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include appetite suppressant, diuretic, inflammation, rheumatism.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations