Cinchona lancifolia

Cinchona lancifolia
Illustration of a stem with pointed green leaves and small pink flowers
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Rubiaceae
Genus: Cinchona
Species:
C. lancifolia
Binomial name
Cinchona lancifolia
Synonyms[1]
  • Cinchona condaminea var. lancifolia (Mutis) Wedd.
  • Cinchona lancifolia var. vera Howard
  • Quinquina lancifolia (Mutis) Kuntze
  • Cinchona angustifolia Ruiz
  • Cinchona lancifolia var. angustifolia DC.
  • Cinchona lancifolia var. discolor H.Karst.
  • Cinchona tunita López ex Triana

Cinchona lancifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae. It is a tree with papery leaves, purplish flowers, and capsule fruits. The species is native to Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela, and was described in 1793.

Taxonomy

The species was described by José Celestino Mutis in 1793.[2]

Distribution

Cinchona lancifolia is native to the wet tropical biome of Colombia, Ecuador (Tungurahua), and Venezuela (Mérida, Táchira, and Trujillo).[1][3] The species is present at elevations of 1,680–2,900 metres (5,510–9,510 ft).[3]

Description

Cinchona lancifolia is a tree.[1] It grows up to 15 metres (49 ft) high, and is around 20 centimetres (0.66 ft) wide.[3]

The leaf stems are 0.3–7 centimetres (0.12–2.76 in) long. The leaves are thinly papery when dry, elliptic to obovate, 6.3–15 centimetres (2.5–5.9 in) long, and 2.7–5.6 centimetres (1.1–2.2 in) wide. The leaves normally have domatia. The leaf edges are slightly rolled down.[3]

The calyx is 2.5–4.8 millimetres (0.098–0.189 in) long, and has 0.8–1.4 millimetres (0.031–0.055 in) lobes. The corolla is purplish, 8.3–12 millimetres (0.33–0.47 in), and has 3.2–4.8 millimetres (0.13–0.19 in) long lobes.[3]

A branch with brown ellipsoid fruits, which are open at the top
Fruits

The fruits are dehiscent, ellipsoid to subglobose capsules. The capsules are 10–28 millimetres (0.39–1.10 in) long, 5–7 millimetres (0.20–0.28 in) wide, and have a firm papery endocarp. The seeds are 7–11 millimetres (0.28–0.43 in) long, and 1.8–4.6 millimetres (0.071–0.181 in) wide.[3]

Uses

Cinchona lancifolia is used in medicine.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Cinchona lancifolia". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2026-07-31.
  2. ↑ "Cinchona lancifolia Mutis". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries; Australian National Botanic Gardens.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Cinchona lancifolia Mutis". WorldFloraOnline.org. World Flora Online. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
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