cockspurthorn

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• cockspurthorn

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Plecospermum cuneifolium
• Cudrania grandifolia
• Procris cochinchinensis
• Cudrania integra
• Maclura amboinensis
• Cudrania javanensis
• Maclura cochinchinensis var. gerontogea
• Cudrania javanensis var. bancroftii
• Cudrania rectispina
• Maclura gerontogea
• Cudrania rumphii
• Cudrania sumatrana
• Cudrania thorelii
• Maclura thorelii
• Cudrania acuminata
• Cudrania cambodiana
• Maclura amboinensis var. paucinervia
• Boehmeria cochinchinensis
• Vanieria cochinchinensis var. gerontogea
• Plecospermum spinosum var. javanensis
• Maclura cochinchinensis var. bancroftii
• Cudrania cochinchinensis var. gerontogea
• Cudrania amboinensis
• Cudrania cochinchinensis
• Cudrania obovata
• Maclura timorensis
• Trophis fruticosa
• Vanieria alternifolia
• Vanieria cochinchinensis
• Cudrania spinosus

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 Rosales, it is classified under the family Moraceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Maclurura and the species Maclurura cochinchinensis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range spread across several key regions of East Asia. Within China, its presence is noted in the South-Central provinces as well as the Southeast regions. It can also be found in the tropical landscapes of Hainan and the high-altitude environments of Tibet. Expanding beyond mainland China, the species is documented in the island nation of Japan. Collectively, these locations highlight the broad distribution of Maclurura cochinchiensis throughout the eastern part of the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Maclurura cochinchinenis is characterized by its adaptability to diverse environmental conditions, primarily thriving within dry forests, halophytic vegetation, and dense secondary shrublands, as well as in ruderal vegetation. This species occupies a specific altitudinal niche, maintaining an elevational range that begins at 900 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 1800 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

900 m AMSL

Habitat :

dry forest, halophytic vegetation, dense secondary shrub and ruderal vegetation

Life history

The life history of Maclurura cochinchinensis is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its presence in the ecosystem over many successive growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody stems or branches, a structural adaptation that allows it to thrive in its specific environmental niche. This species maintains an evergreen deciduousness, retaining its foliage throughout the year rather than shedding it seasonally, which provides a continuous photosynthetic capacity. Its growth habit and structural complexity are further defined by its classification as a phanerophyte, emphasizing its robust, tree-like development.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Maclurura cochinchiensis is characterized by a woody growth form, primarily manifesting as a shrub. It is a terrestrial species that functions as an independent organism, exhibiting no parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of structure, the plant is self-supporting rather than acting as an obligatory or facultative climber. It reaches a mean plant height of approximately 5.75 m, maintaining a robust, woody constitution throughout its development.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

5.75 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Maclura cochinchinenesis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The foliage exhibits an elliptic leaf form with entire margins and is notably devoid of both leaf thorns and spines. The leaves vary in size, with a recorded length ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 4 cm. In terms of leaf architecture and resource allocation, the plant maintains a consistent Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 260.9366332 cm²/g across its minimum, mean, and maximum recorded values, indicating a uniform leaf density and thickness. Furthermore, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on established soil nitrogen sources for its nutritional requirements.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

4 cm

Leaf length min:

1 cm

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) min:

260.9366332 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Maclurura cochinchinensis is characterized by the production of fleshy fruits that transition into a dry state upon maturation. The seeds produced by this species exhibit specific morphological and physical properties, maintaining a highly consistent volume with a recorded mean, minimum, and maximum volume of 39 mm³. In terms of mass, the seeds show a degree of variability, ranging from a minimum of 0.004 g to a maximum of 0.015 g, with an overall average seed mass of 0.00842 g.

Fruit dryness :

dry

Seed mass max:

0.015 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00842 g

Seed mass min:

0.004 g

Seed volume max:

39 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Maclura cochinchinensis has 2 reported plant parts identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, stem.

Root

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Phytochemistry
3. The American journal of Chinese medicine
4. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters
5. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Stem

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Chemicals

Maclura cochinchinensis has 9 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 1,3,7-trihydroxy-2-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-xanthone, Cochinchinol A, Cochinchinol B, Cudraxanthone I, Flavonoids.

1,3,7-trihydroxy-2-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-xanthone

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cochinchinol A

1. Phytochemistry

Cochinchinol B

1. Phytochemistry

Cudraxanthone I

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Flavonoids

1. Phytochemistry

Gerontoxanthone C

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Lancerin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

XANTHONE

1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters

gerontoxanthone I

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Maclura cochinchinensis has 5 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Antiproliferative, Hepatoprotective.

Anticancer

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antimicrobial

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiproliferative

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Hepatoprotective

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Medicinal Uses

Maclura cochinchinensis has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Gram-positive bacteria, antioxidant.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations