Spinach tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Spinach tree
• Tree spinach
• cabbage-star
• tree-spinach

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Jatropha aconitifolia

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 Malpighiales and the family Euphorbiaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement within the genus Cnidoscolus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range that spans across both the Americas and the Pacific regions. Within the Americas, its presence is documented in several distinct areas of Mexico, including the Central, Northeast, and Gulf regions. Moving across the ocean, its distribution extends into the Malesia zone, specifically within the Philippines. Furthermore, the species can be found in the South-Central Pacific, notably inhabitating the Line Islands. This wide-reaching distribution highlights the plant's ability to thrive in varied tropical environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution that spans from sea level up to significant highland elevations. The plant thrives across a diverse topographical gradient, with its elevational range beginning at 0 m AMSL and reaching a maximum of 1000 m AMSL. Across its natural habitats, the species maintains a mean elevation of 1190 m AMSL, reflecting its ability to adapt to varying atmospheric pressures and temperature regimes within these specific vertical zones.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1190 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. Regarding its structural development and growth habit, the plant can be classified under different life forms depending on its environmental context and growth stage, exhibiting characteristics of both a phanerophyte, where its buds are borne on aerial shoots, and a nanophanerophyte, reflecting its capacity to maintain relatively low-growing woody structures.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius is characterized by a woody growth form, primarily manifesting as a shrub. It functions as a self-supporting plant, requiring no external structures for climbing, and is classified as an independent organism rather than a parasite. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit epiphytic or aquatic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant reaches a maximum height of approximately 5 meters, with a mean height recorded at 5.5 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

5 m

Plant height mean:

5.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius is characterized by its efficient metabolic processes and specialized adaptation to semi-arid environments. As a perennial shrub, its physiological framework supports high photosynthetic efficiency and significant nutrient accumulation within its leaves, which are rich in proteins, minerals, and bioactive compounds. Regarding its nutrient cycling capabilities, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer; it lacks the symbiotic relationship with rhizobia bacteria necessary to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, meaning it relies on the availability of nitrogen within the soil medium for its growth and development. Its physiological resilience is further evidenced by its drought-tolerance mechanisms, which include efficient water use and the ability to maintain cellular homeostasis under thermal stress, allowing it to thrive in diverse tropical and subtropical climates.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius is characterized by a diverse dispersal syndrome that encompasses anemochorous, zoochorous, autochorous, and hydrochorous mechanisms, indicating an unspecialized approach to spreading its progeny across various environments. The seeds produced by this species exhibit a highly uniform morphology, with a consistent seed length recorded at a mean of 6.859 mm. This precision in measurement is reflected in the lack of variance within the population, as both the minimum and maximum seed lengths are measured at exactly 6.859 mm.

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Seed length mean:

6.859 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cnidoscolus aconitifolius has 3 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root, stem.

Leaf

1. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology
2. Turkish journal of pharmaceutical sciences
3. Revista de biologia tropical

Root

1. Turkish journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Stem

1. Turkish journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Chemicals

Cnidoscolus aconitifolius has 13 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Saponins, 5'-adenosine monophosphate, Alanyl-tyrosine, Cardiac Glycosides, Gallic acid.

Saponins

1. Turkish journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Revista de biologia tropical

5'-adenosine monophosphate

1. Food chemistry

Alanyl-tyrosine

1. Food chemistry

Cardiac Glycosides

1. Turkish journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Gallic acid

1. Nigerian journal of natural products and medicine

L-glutamic acid

1. Food chemistry

Leucyl-aspartyl-glutamine

1. Food chemistry

Leucyl-glycyl-proline

1. Food chemistry

Pyroglutamic acid

1. Food chemistry

Terpenes

1. Turkish journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Activities

Cnidoscolus aconitifolius has 2 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antioxidant.

Analgesic

1. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Medicinal Uses

Cnidoscolus aconitifolius has 5 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antioxidant, breast cancer, cancer, lung cancer, pain.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations