Eschweilera coriacea
Eschweilera coriacea, commonly known as the "leather-leaf" tree, is a significant medicinal plant native to tropical regions. Renowned for its diverse therapeutic properties, various parts of the plant are utilized in traditional medicine to treat ailments ranging from skin infections to digestive issues, offering valuable ethnobotanical insights.
- Scientific name: Eschweilera coriacea
- Family: Lecythidaceae
- Native range: Southern America
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Ericales, it is specifically placed in the family Lecythidaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Eschweilera, which includes the species Eschweilera coriacea.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Ericales | WCVP |
| Family | Lecythidaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Eschweilera | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Eschweilera coriacea, is known by several different common names in Portuguese depending on the region and local tradition. It is frequently referred to as Matamatá, Marão-vermelho, or Marão vermelho, and it is also commonly called Matamatá-branco or Matamatá branco.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| pt | Matamatá | Wikidata |
| pt | Marão-vermelho | Wikidata |
| pt | Marão vermelho | Wikidata |
| pt | Matamatá-branco | Wikidata |
| pt | Matamatá branco | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across parts of Central and South America. In Central America, its presence is documented in the nations of Honduras and Panamá. Moving into Northern South America, the species can be found spanning several distinct territories. Specifically, it inhabits the regions of French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname. This range highlights its importance within the tropical ecosystems of these interconnected countries.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Central America | Honduras | WCVP |
| Central America | Panamá | WCVP |
| Northern South America | French Guiana | WCVP |
| Northern South America | Guyana | WCVP |
| Northern South America | Suriname | WCVP |
| Northern South America | Venezuela | WCVP |
| Western South America | Bolivia | WCVP |
| Western South America | Colombia | WCVP |
| Western South America | Ecuador | WCVP |
| Western South America | Peru | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Eschweilera coriacea, is a medicinal species where the bark serves as a significant component for therapeutic applications. In traditional medicine, the bark is often harvested and prepared to harness its specific bioactive properties, which are believed to contribute to the plant's overall healing potential.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| bark | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Eschweilera coriacea has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 3-O-galloylepigallocatechin, ellagic acid, epigallocatechin, eschweilenol A, eschweilenol B.
- Total chemicals
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 7
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| 3-O-galloylepigallocatechin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ellagic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| epigallocatechin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| eschweilenol A | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| eschweilenol B | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| eschweilenol C | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sucrose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |