Chinabark

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Chinabark
• ledgerbark
• quinine
• yellow cinchona
• yellowbark

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cinchona scrobiculata var. delondriana
• Cinchona officinalis var. josephiana
• Cinchona peruviana var. vera
• Cinchona calisaya var. boliviana
• Cinchona calisaya var. josephiana
• Cinchona carabayensis
• Cinchona gammiana
• Cinchona gironensis
• Quinquina calisaya
• Quinquina carabayensis
• Quinquina ledgeriana
• Quinquina carabayensis var. villosa
• Cinchona amygdalifolia
• Cinchona carabayensis var. lanceolata
• Cinchona calisaya var. ledgeriana
• Cinchona calisaya var. microcarpa
• Cinchona euneura
• Cinchona delondriana
• Cinchona forbesiana
• Cinchona hasskarliana
• Cinchona josephiana
• Cinchona ledgeriana
• Cinchona pahudiana
• Cinchona thwaitesii
• Cinchona weddelliana
• Cinchona weddelliana var. angustifolia
• Cinchona weddelliana var. multiscrobiculata
• Cinchona weddelliana var. rubrifolia
• Cinchona weddelliana var. rubrivenata
• Cinchona calisaya var. oblongifolia

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Cinchona calisaya, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Gentianales. Finally, it is a member of the family Rubiaceae and the genus Cinchona.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread and diverse geographical distribution spanning several continents. In West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found in the Gulf of Guinea Islands as well as throughout the DR Congo. Its presence extends to the Indian Subcontinent, specifically within the nation of India. Furthermore, it is located in the Northwestern Pacific region among the Caroline Islands. Finally, its range reaches into Central America, where it is documented in Guatemala.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cinchona calisaya is strictly defined by its preference for specific montane environments, where it thrives within a precise altitudinal niche. This species is primarily found in mid-elevation tropical montane forests, maintaining a specialized distribution that ranges from a minimum of 700 m AMSL to a maximum of 1000 m AMSL. This narrow elevational range suggests that the plant is highly adapted to the particular temperature gradients, moisture levels, and atmospheric pressures characteristic of these specific highland zones. Such ecological constraints indicate that the species relies on the stable microclimates found within these sub-montane belts to support its growth and reproductive cycles.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

700 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Cinchona calisaya is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive buds are elevated on woody stems above the ground level, a structural trait that defines its life form. This species maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that it retains its foliage throughout the year to support continuous metabolic processes.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cinchona calisaya is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that functions as a self-supporting, independent organism. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic lifestyles, maintaining its structure through a robust, woody stem. The plant demonstrates significant vertical development, with a height that typically reaches a mean of 6 m, though it can range from a minimum of 15 m to a maximum of 20 m. Because it is self-supporting, it does not require external structures for climbing, distinguishing it from lianas or vines.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Plant height mean:

6 m

Plant height min:

15 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cinchona calisaya is characterized by a complex metabolic framework geared toward the biosynthesis of specialized secondary metabolites, specifically quinoline alkaloids such as cinchonine and cinchonidine, within its cortical tissues. As a perennial woody species, its physiological processes are heavily dependent on efficient photosynthetic pathways and specialized nutrient uptake mechanisms to support its significant biomass and alkaloid production. In terms of its relationship with soil nutrients and atmospheric gases, the plant does not possess the specialized symbiotic mechanisms required for biological nitrogen fixation; therefore, it is not a nitrogen fixer. Consequently, it relies entirely on the assimilation of nitrates and ammonium ions from the soil through its root system to satisfy its nitrogen requirements for protein synthesis and cellular growth.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cinchona calisaya is facilitated through the production of specialized seeds that serve as the primary vehicle for genetic dispersal. The seeds produced by this species are characterized by their extremely lightweight nature, exhibiting a highly consistent mass across observed samples. Specifically, the seed mass is uniform, with a mean value of 3e-04 g, which is reflected in both the maximum and minimum recorded values of 3e-04 g. This precise and minute seed mass suggests a reproductive strategy geared toward efficient dispersal, where the minimal weight allows the seeds to be easily transported by environmental factors to colonize new areas.

Seed mass mean:

3e-04 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Cinchona calisaya has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Quinine, Secologanin, Strictosidine, cinchonine, quinidine.

Quinine

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Planta medica

Secologanin

1. Analytical biochemistry

Strictosidine

1. Analytical biochemistry

cinchonine

1. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

quinidine

1. Planta medica

Activities

Cinchona calisaya has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimalarial, Antimicrobial.

Antimalarial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antimicrobial

1. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Conditions

Cinchona calisaya has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include malaria.

Malaria

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Scientific data

Preparations

Cinchona calisaya has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts of cultured Cinchona ledgeriana cells.

Extracts of cultured cinchona ledgeriana cells

1. Analytical biochemistry