Trichilia catigua

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Trichilia flaviflora
• Trichilia polyclada
• Trichilia affinis
• Trichilia catigua var. longifoliola
• Trichilia catigua var. pallens
• Trichilia catigua var. affinis
• Trichilia catigua var. glabrior
• Trichilia catigua var. parviflora
• Trichilia catigua var. pilosior
• Moschoxylum catigua
• Moschoxylum affine

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 Sapindales, it is classified under the family Meliaceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Trichilia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad presence across several key regions within South America. In the western part of the continent, its range extends into the country of Bolivia. Within Brazil, the species is widely distributed across multiple diverse territories. It can be found throughout the North, Northeast, and Southeast regions of the Brazilian landscape. Additionally, its geographical footprint includes the West-Central area of Brazil.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Trichilia catiagua is characterized by its presence in diverse forest environments, including riparian forests (Floresta Ciliar or Galeria), terra firme forests, seasonal semi-deciduous forests, and restinga ecosystems. This species occupies a specific altitudinal gradient, thriving at elevations ranging from a minimum of 100 m AMSL to a maximum of 600 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

100 m AMSL

Habitat :

Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta de Terra Firme, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Restinga

Life history

The life history of Trichilia catigua is characterized by its status as a perennial species, ensuring its long-term presence within its natural ecosystem. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated branches, a life form classification that is reinforced by its identification as both a phanerophyte in different structural contexts. Throughout its existence, it exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its foliage consistently rather than shedding it seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Trichilia catiagua is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically functioning as a self-supporting tree. It is a terrestrial plant that operates as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte. In terms of its stature, the species typically reaches an average plant height of 5 m, though it can attain a maximum height of up to 10 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

10 m

Plant height mean:

5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Trichilia catigua is characterized by specific leaf economic traits and nutrient acquisition strategies. The plant exhibits a consistent Leaf Dry Matter Content (LDMC) with a mean, minimum, and maximum value of 397.2 mg/g, indicating a stabilized ratio of structural biomass to leaf water content. Similarly, its Specific Leaf Area (SLA) shows no variance in the recorded data, maintaining a constant mean, minimum, and maximum of 111.75 cm²/g, which reflects a specific leaf morphology optimized for its ecological niche. Regarding its nutrient cycling capabilities, Trichilia catigua does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on other soil-based nitrogen uptake mechanisms rather than symbiotic nitrogen fixation.

Leaf dry matter content (LDMC) mean:

397.2 mg/g

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) min:

111.75 cm²/g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Trichilia catigua has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CATECHIN, Catuabine D, Epicatechin, Flavonoids, catechins.

CATECHIN

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
2. Journal of separation science

Catuabine D

1. Planta medica

Epicatechin

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

catechins

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

dopamine

1. Psychopharmacology

polyphenols

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

serotonin

1. Psychopharmacology

Activities

Trichilia catigua has 5 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Adaptogen, Antidepressant, Antioxidant, Anxiolytic, Neurostimulant.

Adaptogen

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antidepressant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Anxiolytic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Neurostimulant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Trichilia catigua has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include depression, depressive disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, varicocele.

Depression

1. Psychopharmacology

Depressive disorders

1. Psychopharmacology

Neurodegenerative diseases

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Neurodegenerative disorders

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Varicocele

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Preparations

Trichilia catigua has 10 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include crude extract (CE), ethyl-acetate fraction (EAF), aqueous extracts, aqueous nor methanolic extracts, bark.

Crude extract (ce)

1. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ethyl-acetate fraction (eaf)

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous nor methanolic extracts

1. Planta medica

Bark

1. Planta medica

Crude extracts

1. Pharmacological research

Extract

1. Psychopharmacology

Extracts

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Herbal medicinal extract

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Semipurified extract

1. Journal of separation science