Cricket-vine

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Cricket-vine

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Arrabidaea rosea
• Arrabidaea acutifolia
• Bignonia cuprea
• Lundia chica
• Temnocydia carajura
• Adenocalymma portoricense
• Arrabidaea chica
• Arrabidaea chica f. cuprea
• Arrabidaea cuprea
• Arrabidaea larensis
• Arrabidaea chica var. acutifolia
• Arrabidaea chica var. angustifolia
• Arrabidaea chica var. cuprea
• Arrabidaea chica var. thyrsoidea
• Bignonia cuprea var. grandiflora
• Bignonia cuprea var. parviflora
• Bignonia chica
• Bignonia rubescens
• Bignonia thyrsoidea

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Lamiales. Finally, it is a member of the family Bignoniaceae and is identified by the genus Fridericia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread presence throughout various regions of Mexico. Its distribution includes the central areas as well as the coastal stretches of the Mexico Gulf. Furthermore, it can be found spanning across the Mexico Southwest and the Mexico Southeast. Moving southward, the species extends its range into the territory of Central America. Specifically, it is documented to grow within the country of Belize.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Fridericia chica is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse environmental conditions across a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to an elevation of 1350 m AMSL. This species exhibits high ecological plasticity, inhabiting a wide variety of ecosystems including anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), open fields such as Campo de Várzea and Carrasco, and the diverse biomes of the Cerrado (latu sensu). Its distribution extends through complex forest structures, spanning from flooded environments like Floresta de Igapó and Floresta de Várzea to more stable habitats such as Floresta de Terra Firme and Floresta Ciliar or Galeria. Furthermore, it is frequently found within various seasonal forest types, including Floresta Estacional Decidual, Floresta Estacional Perenifólia, and Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, demonstrating its ability to thrive in both humid and seasonally dry forest dynamics.

Elevational range max:

1350 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Campo de Várzea, Carrasco, Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta de Igapó, Floresta de Terra Firme, Floresta de Várzea, Floresta Estacional Decidual, Floresta Estacional Perenifólia, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, F

Life history

The life history of Fridericia chica is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a stable presence within its ecosystem. As a perennial, it avoids the complete senescence seen in annuals, instead focusing its energy on long-term survival and reproductive consistency. This lifecycle enables the plant to undergo various stages of development, including vegetative growth and periodic flowering, which may fluctuate depending on environmental conditions and resource availability. Its ability to survive over many years ensures that it can contribute to the local biodiversity and maintain its role in the medicinal landscape through sustained life cycles.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Fridericia chica is characterized by a woody growth habit, functioning as a liana that exhibits obligatory climbing behavior. This plant reaches a significant height, with a mean stature of approximately 10 m. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit epiphytic or aquatic tendencies, maintaining an independent existence without behaving as a parasite.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Fridericia chica is characterized by a standard C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation process and energy production through the direct carboxylation of CO2 by the enzyme RuBisCO. As a non-nitrogen-fixing species, the plant does not possess the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria necessary to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, meaning it relies entirely on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil to meet its metabolic nitrogen requirements.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Fridericia chica involves a complex series of processes designed to ensure the propagation and colonization of new habitats. The plant utilizes various mechanisms to spread its progeny, exhibiting a diverse range of dispersal strategies. Primarily, it functions through an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, where wind plays a critical role in transporting seeds or small propagules over distances. However, its reproductive success is further enhanced by a multi-faceted approach that includes zoochorous, autochorous, and hydrochorous methods, as well as unspecialized dispersal patterns. This combination of wind, animal interaction, self-dispersal, and water transport allows the species to effectively navigate different environmental conditions and maximize its spatial distribution within its ecosystem.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Fridericia chica 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 leaf.

Leaf

1. Toxins
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Fridericia chica has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, Acetovanilone, Anthocyanidins, CU.

Flavonoids

1. Journal of medicinal food
2. Inflammopharmacology
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Acetovanilone

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Anthocyanidins

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

CU

1. Biological trace element research

Carajurin

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Myricetin 3-O-glucuronide

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Scutellarein

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Umbelliferone

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

p-coumaric acid

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Activities

Fridericia chica has 9 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Antifungal, Antimutagenic, Antineoplastic.

Antioxidant

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine
2. Inflammopharmacology
3. Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)

Antimicrobial

1. Journal of medicinal food
2. Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland)

Antifungal

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Antimutagenic

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Antineoplastic

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Antiparasitic

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Gastroprotective

1. Inflammopharmacology

Insect-Repellent

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Repellent

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Conditions

Fridericia chica has 8 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Dengue, anemia, diarrhea, gastric ulcers, hemorrhage.

Dengue

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Anemia

1. Journal of medicinal food

Diarrhea

1. Journal of medicinal food

Gastric ulcers

1. Inflammopharmacology

Hemorrhage

1. Journal of medicinal food

Infectious diseases

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Inflammations

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Ulcers

1. Journal of medicinal food

Preparations

Fridericia chica has 8 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Leaves Extract, anthocyanidin-rich fraction (ACAF), crude extract (ACCE), crude hexanic extract, dichloromethane extract.

Leaves extract

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Anthocyanidin-rich fraction (acaf)

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Crude extract (acce)

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Crude hexanic extract

1. BioMed research international

Dichloromethane extract

1. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia

Flavonoid-rich f. chica subfraction (frs)

1. Inflammopharmacology

Hydroethanolic extract

1. Toxins

Methanol extract

1. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia