Erythroxylum panamense

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution that spans from North America down through Central and South America. In North America, its range extends into the Mexico Gulf region. Moving southward through Central America, the species can be found inhabiting Costa Rica and Panamá. Its presence continues into Northern South America, specifically within the borders of Venezuela. Finally, the distribution reaches into Western South America, where it is documented in Colombia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Erythroxylum panamense is characterized by its presence across a diverse altitudinal gradient within its native habitat. This species is found distributed from sea level up to an elevation of 1000 m AMSL, allowing it to occupy various ecological niches ranging from lowland tropical environments to mid-elevation montane zones. This broad elevational range suggests an adaptability to varying levels of humidity, temperature fluctuations, and light availability typical of these transitioning elevations. By spanning from 0 m to 1000 m AMSL, the plant can establish itself in different soil compositions and microclimates, playing a specialized role in the biodiversity of its specific forest ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Morphology

The morphology of Erythroxylum panamense is characterized by its woody structure and varied growth habits, primarily functioning as a self-supporting plant. Depending on its developmental stage and environmental context, its growth form can manifest as either a shrub or a tree, with the plant reaching a maximum height of approximately 8 meters. While its habitat and ecological niche allow for a range of moisture associations—spanning aquatic, semiaquatic, and terrestrial environments—it is fundamentally classified as a terrestrial species. It does not exhibit parasitic behavior, maintaining an independent existence rather than being an obligatory or facultative parasite. Furthermore, it lacks epiphytic tendencies, remaining a terrestrial organism rather than growing as a holoepiphyte, hemiepiphyte, or other epiphytic forms. Although it can exhibit characteristics similar to a self-supporting climber or vine in certain contexts, its primary morphological identity is defined by its woody, upright stature.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

8 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Erythroxylum panamense is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency under typical environmental conditions. In terms of leaf structural composition, the plant exhibits a consistent leaf dry matter content (LDMC) of 398.6 mg/g. This value remains uniform across all recorded observations, with both the minimum and maximum measurements recorded at exactly 398.6 mg/g, indicating a highly stable leaf mass per unit area and a specialized density of leaf tissues.

Leaf dry matter content (LDMC) mean:

398.6 mg/g

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Erythroxylum panaense is characterized by a dispersal syndrome that is primarily zoochorous, indicating that its seeds are spread by animals. While the species exhibits a complex reproductive strategy that can be categorized across various modes including anemochorous, autochorous, hydrochorous, and unspecialized, the most prominent mechanism for the movement of its propagules is through biotic vectors. This zoochorous nature suggests that the plant relies on fauna to facilitate the distribution of its seeds away from the parent plant, though it retains the potential for wind, water, or self-dispersal depending on specific environmental conditions.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Erythroxylum panamense has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include cocaine.

cocaine

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Erythroxylum panamense has 26 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anesthetic, Anorexic, Antiarrhythmic, Antibacterial, Antiepistactic.

Anesthetic

1. Dr. Duke

Anorexic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiarrhythmic

1. Dr. Duke

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke

Antiepistactic

1. Dr. Duke

Antifeedant

1. Dr. Duke

Arterioconstrictor

1. Dr. Duke

CNS-Stimulant

1. Dr. Duke

Cardiotonic

1. Dr. Duke

Convulsant

1. Dr. Duke