Clusia flava

Clusia flava, commonly known as the Autograph Tree, is a resilient evergreen shrub native to tropical regions. Renowned for its thick, succulent leaves, this medicinal plant is utilized in traditional healing practices to treat various ailments, offering significant pharmacological potential through its unique bioactive compounds and diverse therapeutic properties.

  • Scientific name: Clusia flava
  • Family: Clusiaceae
  • Native range: Northern America

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Malpighiales, it is classified under the family Clusiaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Clusia, specifically as the species Clusia flava.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Malpighiales WCVP
Family Clusiaceae WCVP
Genus Clusia WCVP

Common Names

This plant, known scientifically as Clusia flava, is recognized by various local names depending on the region and language. In English, it is often referred to as the golden aucuba, while in Spanish, it is commonly called aucuba amarilla or clusia amarilla. In Portuguese, the plant is known as aucuba-amarela.
Language Common Name Source

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical range across several key regions of North and Central America. Within Mexico, its presence is recorded in the Northeast, the Gulf region, and the Southeast. Additionally, the species can be found extending into the Southwest part of the country. Moving southward, its distribution continues into the tropical landscapes of Central America. Specifically, the plant is known to inhabit the territory of Belize.

Region Area Source
Mexico Mexico Northeast WCVP
Mexico Mexico Gulf WCVP
Mexico Mexico Southwest WCVP
Mexico Mexico Southeast WCVP
Central America Belize WCVP
Central America Costa Rica WCVP
Central America Guatemala WCVP
Central America Honduras WCVP
Central America Nicaragua WCVP
Caribbean Cayman Is. WCVP

Plant Parts

This plant, known scientifically as Clusia flava, utilizes various anatomical structures for its medicinal properties, most notably its leaves and bark. The thick, leathery leaves are often studied for their phytochemical content, while the bark is frequently harvested to extract bioactive compounds used in traditional remedies. Together, these plant parts serve as the primary sources for the therapeutic applications associated with this species.
Total parts
2
Scientific sources
2
Plant Part Sources Confidence
leaves 1 ★☆☆☆☆
bark 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Chemicals

Clusia flava has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include MeOH.

Total chemicals
1
Scientific sources
1

Most Reported Compounds

Compound Sources Confidence
MeOH 1 ★☆☆☆☆