Crescentia alata

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning multiple continents and oceanic regions. In Africa, its presence is noted within the Northeast Tropical region, specifically in Chad. Its reach extends across the ocean to the Northwestern Pacific, where it can be found in the Mariana Islands. Within Mexico, the species is widely spread across the Central, Northeast, and Gulf regions. Consequently, this variety of locations highlights the broad environmental adaptability of the species.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Crescentia alatata is characterized by its ability to inhabit a broad vertical gradient within its native landscape, ranging from sea level to higher montane reaches. It thrives across an elevational range starting from 0 m AMSL and extending up to a maximum of 1000 m AMSL. This distribution suggests an adaptability to various tropical and subtropical environmental conditions, allowing it to occupy diverse ecological niches from lowland coastal regions to mid-elevation forest zones. Within this altitudinal span, the species interacts with varying moisture levels, temperature fluctuations, and soil compositions, demonstrating a resilient ecological footprint across its established altitudinal limits.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Crescentia alata is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a long-term presence in its habitat. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody stems, a structural adaptation that defines its life form. This phanerophytic growth habit, categorized under both life form classifications, ensures that the plant maintains its structural integrity and reproductive capacity over many years, typical of woody species that invest in permanent above-ground biomass.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Crescentia alata is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, reaching an average plant height of approximately 10 m. This species is a terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism, exhibiting no parasitic behavior. Unlike climbing vines or lianas, it is a self-supporting structure that does not require external support for its vertical development. Furthermore, it is strictly terrestrial in its ecological habit, showing no epiphyte characteristics such as hemi-epiphytic or facultative growth on other plants.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Crescentia alata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency under varying environmental conditions. The plant exhibits a Specific Leaf Area (SLA) with a mean value of 93.778 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf morphology and its strategy for optimizing light interception and gas exchange relative to its biomass. Furthermore, Crescentia alata does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil rather than through symbiotic biological nitrogen fixation.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

93.778 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Crescentia alatata is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on bats as the primary pollinators to facilitate fertilization. Following successful pollination, the plant produces seeds with highly consistent physical dimensions, exhibiting a uniform seed volume of 56 mm³. These seeds vary in mass, with a recorded minimum of 0.037 g, a maximum of 0.07136 g, and a mean seed mass of 0.05418 g. The dispersal of these seeds follows a zoochorous syndrome, meaning they are distributed through animal vectors, which plays a critical role in the plant's life cycle and spatial distribution.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Pollination syndrome :

bat

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.07136 g

Seed mass mean:

0.05418 g

Seed mass min:

0.037 g

Seed volume max:

56 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Crescentia alata 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 fruit.

Fruit

1. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Crescentia alata has 14 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Ash, CALCIUM, FAT, HCN, IRON.

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

HCN

1. Dr. Duke

IRON

1. Dr. Duke

PHOSPHORUS

1. Dr. Duke

Phenols

1. Dr. Duke

beta-carotene

1. Dr. Duke

niacin

1. Dr. Duke

oleic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Crescentia alata has 169 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, Allergenic, Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, Analgesic, Androgenic?.

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic?

1. Dr. Duke

Anemiagenic

1. Dr. Duke

Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

AntiLyme

1. Dr. Duke

AntiMeniere's

1. Dr. Duke

AntiPMS

1. Dr. Duke

Preparations

Crescentia alata has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include pulp of the fruits.

Pulp of the fruits

1. Journal of natural products