Colubrina texensis

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant is primarily found within specific regions of North America. In the South-Central United States, its presence is noted in the state of Texas. Its range also extends southward into the country of Mexico. Specifically, it can be located throughout the Northeast region of Mexico. These two areas define the current geographical distribution of this medicinal species.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Colubrina texensis is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to maintain a long-term presence within its native ecosystems. Throughout its lifecycle, the plant undergoes distinct developmental stages, beginning with seed germination that typically requires specific environmental triggers found in subtropical or tropical habitats. As it matures, the plant establishes a robust woody structure, transitioning from a seedling into a resilient shrub or small tree capable of enduring seasonal fluctuations. Because it is perennial, it does not complete its life cycle in a single growing season but instead undergoes repeated cycles of vegetative growth and reproductive flowering. During the reproductive phase, the plant produces flowers that facilitate pollination, eventually leading to the development of fruits that ensure the dispersal of seeds for the next generation, thereby sustaining its continuous lifecycle over many years.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Colubrina texensis is characterized by a woody growth form, primarily functioning as a shrub or subshrub. It is an independent plant that does not exhibit parasitic or epiphytic behavior, maintaining a terrestrial existence rather than an aquatic or semiaquatic one. The plant typically grows as a self-supporting structure, lacking the climbing habits of a liana or vine. In terms of physical dimensions, it reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 0.9144 meters to a maximum of 3.048 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3.048 m

Plant height min:

0.9144 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Colubrina texensis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy typical of many woody dicotyledonous shrubs in the Rhamnaceae family. Under this C3 mechanism, carbon fixation is initiated by the enzyme RuBisCO, which directly attaches atmospheric carbon dioxide to ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) within the mesophyll cells. This process results in the immediate production of a three-carbon compound, 3-phosphoglycerate, which serves as the foundation for the Calvin cycle. Because it lacks the specialized Kranz anatomy or temporal separation found in C4 or CAM plants, its physiological efficiency is highly sensitive to photorespiration, particularly when stomatal conductance decreases under high temperature or water-deficit conditions. Consequently, the plant's metabolic rate and biomass accumulation are closely tied to its ability to balance gas exchange for carbon uptake against the transpirational water loss occurring through its stomata.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Colubrina texensis is characterized by the production of seeds that exhibit specific morphological and weight profiles. The seed mass of this species is relatively consistent, with a recorded mean mass of 0.04857 g. Throughout the reproductive cycle, the individual seed weights fluctuate within a narrow range, reaching a maximum mass of 0.05154 g and a minimum mass of 0.0456 g. This data indicates a highly standardized seed production process, ensuring that the propagules released for dispersal maintain a stable mass within these specific parameters.

Seed mass max:

0.05154 g

Seed mass mean:

0.04857 g

Seed mass min:

0.0456 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Colubrina texensis has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Ash, CALCIUM, FAT, PHOSPHORUS, TEXENSINE.

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

PHOSPHORUS

1. Dr. Duke

TEXENSINE

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Colubrina texensis has 30 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include AntiPMS, Antiallergic, Antianxiety, Antiarrhythmic, Antiarthritic.

AntiPMS

1. Dr. Duke

Antiallergic

1. Dr. Duke

Antianxiety

1. Dr. Duke

Antiarrhythmic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiarthritic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiatherosclerotic

1. Dr. Duke

Anticlimacteric

1. Dr. Duke

Antidepressant

1. Dr. Duke

Antidote (Aluminum)

1. Dr. Duke

Antidote (Lead)

1. Dr. Duke