yellow-cordia

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• yellow-cordia
• yellow cordia
• yellow geiger

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Varronia rotundifolia
• Calyptracordia rotundifolia
• Coilanthera rotundifolia
• Ectemis lutea
• Varronia flava
• Lithocardium rotundifolium
• Gerascanthus luteus
• Lithocardium flavum
• Gerascanthus rotundifolius
• Cordia marchionica
• Cordia flava

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 Boraginales and the family Boraginaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Cordia, specifically as the species Cordia lutea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide and diverse geographical distribution spanning several oceanic and continental regions. Within the North-Central Pacific, it can be found growing in the islands of Hawaii. Its presence extends to the South-Central Pacific, specifically within the Marquesas. Moving toward the Americas, the species is established across Western South America, including Colombia and Ecuador. Finally, the plant is also documented in the Galápagos archipelago.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cordia lutea is defined by its broad altitudinal distribution, allowing it to occupy diverse topographical niches within its habitat. The species is primarily found in low-lying areas, with a mean elevational range centered at approximately 100 m AMSL. However, it exhibits significant ecological plasticity, as its presence extends from coastal or near-sea-level environments starting as low as 3 m AMSL up to significant highland elevations reaching a maximum of 1500 m AMSL. This wide vertical gradient suggests that the plant is capable of adapting to varying temperature regimes and atmospheric pressures across different mountain profiles.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

100 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

3 m AMSL

Morphology

The morphology of Cordia lutea is characterized by a woody growth form that manifests primarily as a tree or a shrub. This plant is strictly terrestrial in its habitat, functioning as an independent organism rather than acting as a parasite or an epiphyte. The structural development of the species is defined by a self-supporting habit, which precludes it from being classified as a liana, vine, or climber. Regarding its architectural development, the shoot orientation is notably ascending. In terms of physical dimensions, the plant reaches a maximum height of approximately 6 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

6 m

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cordia lutea is characterized by specific morphological adaptations in its foliage that support its metabolic processes and environmental interactions. The leaves exhibit a variable size range, which is critical for optimizing photosynthetic efficiency and transpiration rates. Specifically, the leaf length varies from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 10.5 cm, providing a flexible surface area for light interception. Complementing this longitudinal variation, the leaf width ranges from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 7 cm, contributing to the overall structural integrity and gas exchange capacity of the plant. These dimensional parameters facilitate the regulation of water potential and nutrient transport within the leaf tissue, ensuring the plant maintains physiological equilibrium under varying environmental conditions.

Leaf length max:

10.5 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf width max:

7 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cordia lutea is characterized by the production of small, yellow flowers that typically measure between 0.1 cm and 0.4 cm in length. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruits that range in length from 1.2 cm to a maximum of 2 cm. Within each fruit, the seed count is relatively low, generally ranging from 1 to 10 seeds. The individual seeds are distinct in size, with a length spanning from 10 mm to 12 mm and a width varying between 5 mm and 7 mm.

Flower colour :

yellow

Flower length max:

0.4 cm

Flower length min:

0.1 cm

Fruit length max:

2 cm

Fruit length min:

1.2 cm

Seed length max:

12 mm

Seed length min:

10 mm

Seed width max:

7 mm

Seed width min:

5 mm

Seeds_per_fruit :

1-10

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cordia lutea has 1 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower.

Flower

1. Journal of natural products
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Therapeutics and clinical risk management

Activities

Cordia lutea has 2 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiplasmodial, Chemopreventive.

Antiplasmodial

1. Journal of natural products

Chemopreventive

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Conditions

Cordia lutea has 7 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Allergies, Helicobacter pylori, edema, erythema, leishmania.

Allergies

1. Therapeutics and clinical risk management

Helicobacter pylori

1. Journal of natural products

Edema

1. Therapeutics and clinical risk management

Erythema

1. Therapeutics and clinical risk management

Leishmania

1. Journal of natural products

Plasmodium

1. Journal of natural products

Prostate cancer

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Preparations

Cordia lutea has 2 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include atomized extract of flowers, ethanol extract.

Atomized extract of flowers

1. Therapeutics and clinical risk management

Ethanol extract

1. Journal of natural products