Cordia boissieri

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific range across North America, primarily concentrated in the southern regions. Within the South-Central United States, its presence is documented in the state of Texas. Moving into Mexico, the species is distributed across the Northeast part of the country. Additionally, it can be found throughout the Gulf region of Mexico. These areas define the primary geographical boundaries where the plant naturally occurs.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Cordia boissiei is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. Throughout its developmental stages, the plant maintains an evergreen habit, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and present year-round rather than shedding leaves seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cordia boissieri is characterized by a woody structure that can manifest as either a tree or a shrub. As a self-supporting plant, it does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, and it grows as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. The species is terrestrial in nature and lacks aquatic or semiaquatic characteristics. In terms of stature, it reaches an average plant height of approximately 9.945 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

9.945 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cordia boissiei is characterized by complex metabolic processes geared toward survival in specific environmental niches, although it does not possess the specialized symbiotic mechanisms required to function as a nitrogen fixer. Unlike leguminous species that host diazotrophic bacteria in root nodules to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, this plant relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium directly from the soil through its root system. Its nutrient assimilation strategies are closely tied to its transpiration rates and soil moisture availability, influencing its overall growth vigor and reproductive success. The plant's physiological efficiency is further defined by its photosynthetic pathways and its ability to manage water potential, ensuring that metabolic functions remain stable even under varying environmental stressors.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cordia boissieri is characterized by specific seed morphological traits and specialized dispersal mechanisms. The plant produces seeds with a relatively consistent mass, exhibiting a mean seed mass of 0.55276 g, with individual values ranging from a minimum of 0.51406 g to a maximum of 0.59146 g. In terms of its reproductive strategy, the species utilizes a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning it relies on animals to facilitate the movement and distribution of its seeds across the landscape.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Seed mass max:

0.59146 g

Seed mass mean:

0.55276 g

Seed mass min:

0.51406 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cordia boissieri has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Cordia boissieri has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include methanol-based extract from the leaves.

Methanol-based extract from the leaves

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology