lobus gonorreus mentirosus

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Croton paulinianus
• Oxydectes pauliniana
• Oxydectes urucurana
• Croton succiruber
• Croton dracona
• Croton urucurana var. albidus
• Croton urucurana var. draconoideus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Malpighiales, it is classified under the family Euphorbiaceae and is specifically identified by the genus Croton.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad presence across the diverse landscapes of Western South America. Its distribution includes significant populations found within the borders of Bolivia and Peru. Moving toward the eastern part of the continent, it is widely documented throughout various regions of Brazil. Specifically, it can be located in the Brazil West-Central, Northeast, and Southeast areas. This wide range highlights the plant's adaptability to different ecological zones across these South American territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Croton urucurana is characterized by its preference for humid and well-watered environments, typically thriving within riparian forests (Floresta Ciliar), gallery forests (Galeria), or ombrophilous forests (Floresta Ombrófila), which include rain forests. This species occupies a specific altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 600 meters above mean sea level (m AMSL). Its presence in these moisture-rich habitats suggests a dependency on high humidity and consistent water availability provided by forest canopies and riverine systems.

Elevational range max:

600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Life history

The life history of Croton urucuana is characterized by its existence as a perennial species, ensuring its presence in the ecosystem over multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody stems or branches, a structural adaptation that defines its growth habit. This plant exhibits a deciduous nature, meaning it undergoes a period of leaf shedding, typically in response to seasonal changes or environmental stressors. Through these physiological traits, the species maintains a stable yet adaptive presence within its natural habitat.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Croton urucuana is characterized by a woody growth form, manifesting primarily as a tree. This species is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber, vine, or liana, nor does it exhibit parasitic behavior, remaining an independent organism. As a terrestrial species, it does not inhabit aquatic or semiaquatic environments, nor does it act as an epiphyte. In terms of stature, the plant reaches a mean height of approximately 10 meters, though it is capable of attaining a maximum height of up to 22 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

22 m

Plant height mean:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Croton urucurana is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency under typical environmental conditions. The plant exhibits a highly consistent Specific Leaf Area (SLA), with a recorded minimum, mean, and maximum value of 172 cm²/g, suggesting a uniform leaf structure and resource allocation strategy regarding leaf mass per unit area. Additionally, Croton urucurana does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil rather than through symbiotic nitrogen-fixing relationships.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) min:

172 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Croton urucuana is driven by biotic pollination syndromes, characterized by a reliance on living organisms to facilitate pollen transfer. Specifically, the plant utilizes insect-mediated pollination, with a notable emphasis on bees as primary pollinators. The reproductive cycle concludes with the production of seeds that exhibit highly uniform physical characteristics; the seed mass is remarkably consistent, with a mean, maximum, and minimum mass all recorded at 0.009 g.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass mean:

0.009 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Croton urucurana has 29 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, (+)-Gallocatechin, (+)-catechin, (-)-Epicatechin, (epi)catechin.

Flavonoids

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

(+)-Gallocatechin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

(+)-catechin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

(-)-Epicatechin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

(epi)catechin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

(epi)gallocatechin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Acetyl aleuritolic acid

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

CAMPESTEROL

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

CATECHIN

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Croton urucurana has 4 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antinociceptive, Cardioprotective, Hepatoprotective.

Analgesic

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antinociceptive

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cardioprotective

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Hepatoprotective

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Conditions

Croton urucurana has 12 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cardiovascular diseases, dyslipidemia, endocrine system diseases, gastric ulcers, gastritis.

Cardiovascular diseases

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Dyslipidemia

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Endocrine system diseases

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Gastric ulcers

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Gastritis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Gastrointestinal diseases

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Hemorrhoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hypertension

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Infections

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Oxidative stress

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Preparations

Croton urucurana has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extract, gum exudate.

Extract

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Gum exudate

1. Journal of natural products