Tocoyena formosa

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ucriana hirsuta
• Tocoyena stipulosa
• Tocoyena hirsuta
• Tocoyena microdon
• Tocoyena mollis
• Gardenia formosa
• Tocoyena bullata f. puberula
• Tocoyena bullata var. speciosa
• Tocoyena bullata f. tomentella
• Tocoyena formosa var. maxima
• Tocoyena formosa var. microdon
• Tocoyena formosa var. pseudobrasiliensis
• Tocoyena surinamensis
• Tocoyena velutina

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 Gentianaales, it is classified under the family Rubiaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation is placed within the genus Tocoyena.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several regions of South America. In the northern part of the continent, its presence is recorded in Suriname. Moving toward the western side, the species can be found within the borders of Bolivia. Within the massive territory of Brazil, it occupies multiple distinct zones including the West-Central region. Furthermore, its range extends through both the Northeast and Southeast regions of Brazil.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Tocoyena formosa is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 500 m AMSL. This species exhibits significant ecological plasticity, inhabiting a diverse array of distinct biomes and vegetation types. Its presence is recorded across the Caatinga (strictu sensu), Campo Rupestre, and the Cerrado (lato sensu), as well as within various forest formations including Floresta Ciliar or Galeria, Floresta Estacional Decidual, and Floresta Estacional Semi-decidual. This ability to thrive in both open scrublands and various seasonal or riparian forest structures suggests a highly adaptable nature to different moisture regimes and soil conditions found throughout these tropical ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Caatinga (stricto sensu), Campo Rupestre, Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta Estacional Decidual, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual

Life history

The life history of Tocoyena formosa is characterized by its perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle in a single year. In terms of its structural growth strategies and ecological positioning, it exhibits a dual life form profile, manifesting as both a phanerophyte and a chamaephyte. As a phanerophyte, its buds are elevated above the ground level, often on woody stems, whereas its classification as a chamaephyte indicates that its buds are situated close to the soil surface, providing a resilient architectural habit that facilitates survival in its specific environmental niche.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Tocoyena formosa is characterized by a woody growth form that can manifest as either a tree or a shrub. This plant is primarily terrestrial in its habitat and functions as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic tendencies. In terms of structural habit, it is classified as a self-supporting plant rather than a climber or vine. The stature of the species is significant, with an average plant height of approximately 4 meters, though it is capable of reaching a maximum height of 6 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

6 m

Plant height mean:

4 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Tocoyena formosa is characterized by a metabolic framework centered around a C3 photosynthetic pathway. In this process, the plant captures atmospheric carbon dioxide through the enzyme Rubisco, which facilitates the initial fixation of carbon into a three-carbon molecule, such as 3-phosphoglycerate. This carbon fixation occurs within the mesophyll cells during the light-dependent reactions, driving the subsequent Calvin cycle to produce essential carbohydrates required for growth and secondary metabolite synthesis. As a C3 plant, its physiological efficiency is highly dependent on environmental conditions, particularly moisture availability and temperature, as it lacks the specialized carbon-concentrating mechanisms found in C4 or CAM species.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

Reproduction in Tocoyena formosa is characterized by the production of specialized seeds that exhibit a high degree of morphological consistency. The reproductive output is defined by a uniform seed size, with a measured seed volume that remains constant across sampled populations. Specifically, the seed volume shows no variance, maintaining a minimum, maximum, and mean value of exactly 160 mm³. This precise volumetric stability suggests a highly regulated developmental process during the maturation of the seeds, ensuring that each reproductive unit possesses a standardized capacity for nutrient storage and potential germination.

Seed volume max:

160 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Tocoyena formosa has 11 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CATECHIN, CHLOROGENIC ACID, Gallic acid, OLEANOLIC ACID, RUTIN.

CATECHIN

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Gallic acid

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

OLEANOLIC ACID

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

RUTIN

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Ursolic acid

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

caffeic acid

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

ellagic acid

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

luteolin

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

n-Nonacosane

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Activities

Tocoyena formosa has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic.

Analgesic

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Conditions

Tocoyena formosa has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include gastrointestinal disorders, infections, lower back pain, myalgia.

Gastrointestinal disorders

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Infections

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Lower back pain

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Myalgia

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Preparations

Tocoyena formosa has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanolic (EETF) extracts, hexane (HETF) extracts.

Ethanolic (eetf) extracts

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Hexane (hetf) extracts

1. Chemistry & biodiversity