Colubrina elliptica

Mabi

Colubrina elliptica, commonly known as the Elliptic Colubrina, is a versatile medicinal plant native to tropical regions. Renowned for its diverse therapeutic properties, various parts of this shrub are utilized in traditional medicine to treat ailments ranging from skin infections to digestive issues, offering significant potential in ethnobotanical studies.

  • Scientific name: Colubrina elliptica
  • Family: Rhamnaceae
  • Native range: Northern America

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Under the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls into the order Rosales and the family Rhamnaceae. Finally, it is specifically identified by the genus Colubrina.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Rosales WCVP
Family Rhamnaceae WCVP
Genus Colubrina WCVP

Common Names

This plant, known scientifically as Colubrina elliptica, is referred to by several common names depending on the region and language. In English, it is frequently called mabbi or soldierwood.
Language Common Name Source
en mabi Wikidata
en soldierwood Wikidata

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread distribution throughout parts of North America and Mexico. In the Southeastern United States, its presence is specifically noted in the state of Florida. The species is also extensively found across various regions of Mexico. Specifically, it inhabits Central Mexico as well as the Northeast and Gulf regions of the country. Additionally, its geographical range extends into the Southwest portion of Mexico.

Region Area Source
Southeastern U.S.A. Florida WCVP
Mexico Mexico Central WCVP
Mexico Mexico Northeast WCVP
Mexico Mexico Gulf WCVP
Mexico Mexico Southwest WCVP
Mexico Mexico Southeast WCVP
Central America Costa Rica WCVP
Central America Guatemala WCVP
Central America Honduras WCVP
Central America Nicaragua WCVP

Plant Parts

This plant, known scientifically as Colubrina elliptica, possesses various anatomical features, but its medicinal properties are most notably associated with its bark. The bark is frequently harvested and utilized in traditional medicine due to its specific bioactive compounds, which are often employed to treat various ailments. While the leaves and other structures contribute to the overall biology of the species, it is the therapeutic potential found within the bark that remains a primary focus for those studying its ethnobotanical applications.
Total parts
1
Scientific sources
1
Plant Part Sources Confidence
bark 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Chemicals

Colubrina elliptica has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include mabioside B.

Total chemicals
1
Scientific sources
1

Most Reported Compounds

Compound Sources Confidence
mabioside B 1 ★☆☆☆☆