{{Short description|Species of tree}} {{Speciesbox |image = Fagara coco leaves.jpg |genus = Zanthoxylum |species = coco |authority = [[JOhn Gillies|Gillies]] ex [[Hook.]] & [[Arn.]] (1833)<ref name = powo/> |synonyms = * ''Fagara coco'' <small>(Gillies ex Hook. & Arn.) [[Adolf Engler|Engl.]] (1896)</small> * ''Zanthoxylum stipitatum'' {{small|Engl. (1874)}} |synonyms_ref = <ref name = powo>[https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:775658-1 ''Zanthoxylum coco'' Gillies ex Hook. & Arn.] ''[[Plants of the World Online]]''. Retrieved 29 May 2023.</ref> }}
'''''Zanthoxylum coco''''' (also known as ''Fagara coco'') is an evergreen tree of the family [[Rutaceae]], native to [[Argentina]] and [[Bolivia]] where it grows in the wild, mostly in spiniferous forests of the low mountain ranges of the western [[Gran Chaco|Chaco]]. It is characteristic of the hill forest of the [[Sierras Pampeanas]].
==Description== The '''coco''', also '''cochucho''' or '''smelly sauco''', is usually found either in isolated groups or standing alone, from a small to medium-sized tree, ranging from 6 to 8 metres in height. The foliage is abundant, [[evergreen]] with [[imparipinnate]] leaves that present paired spines presumably in the place of leaflets. Punctations, in pairs, on the leaflets are quite distinctive. Leaves have serrated margins and pinnate venation. Flowers have five [[petal]]s and are arranged in [[paniculate]] inflorescences. The fruit is spherically shaped, [[Dehiscence (botany)|dehiscent]]; containing a shiny blackish seed.<ref>Stucker, G.V.: (1930), Contribución al estudio del Fagara coco, Congreso Internacional de Biología, Montevideo, Oct. 1930.</ref> The whole plant has a characteristic unpleasant smell, hence the alternative name "smelly sauco".<ref>Fernández Rua, R.: (1933), El alcaloide de la corteza del Fagara coco: la fagaridina, Córdoba, folleto - 12 pp. y tablas.</ref>
==Biochemistry== Even though unused in the general botanical pharmacopeia, ''Zanthoxylum coco'' tissues are very rich in [[alkaloid]]s. γ-[[Fagarine]], [[N-methylisocoridine|N-methylisocorydine]], [[eskimminianine|skimminianine]], [[α-fagarine]], [[fagarine-2]], [[magnoflorinne|magnoflorine]], [[nitidine]], [[cheleritrinne|chelerythrine]], [[berberine]], [[palmatine]] and [[candicine]] have been isolated from the foliage and wood.<ref>Boelcke, O.: (1989) Plantas vasculares de la Argentina - Bs.As., Ed. H. Sur, 2da. reimpresión, 171 - 369 pp.</ref>
==Taxon synonym usage== The ''coco'' belongs to the genus ''[[Zanthoxylum]]''. However, most local scientific articles use ''Fagara'' as the genus name.
==References== {{Reflist}}
* Hieronymus, G.: (1882), Plantae Diaphoricae Florae Argentinae - Bs. A.s, Ed. Kraft, 53 - 404 pp. * Domínguez, J. A.: (1928), Contribuciones a la Materia Médica Argentina, Bs. As., Ed. Peuser, 95 - 433 pp. * Stucker, G.V.: (1930), Contribución al estudio del Fagara coco, Congreso Internacional de Biología, Montevideo, Oct. 1930. * Fernández Rua, R.: (1933), El alcaloide de la corteza del Fagara coco: la fagaridina, Córdoba, folleto - 12 pp. y tablas. * Boelcke, O.: (1989) Plantas vasculares de la Argentina - Bs.As., Ed. H. Sur, 2da. reimpresión, 171 - 369 pp.
{{Taxonbar|from=Q3339238}}
[[Category:Zanthoxylum|coco]] [[Category:Trees of Argentina]] [[Category:Trees of Bolivia]] [[Category:Gran Chaco]] [[Category:Plants described in 1833]] [[Category:Taxa named by William Jackson Hooker]] [[Category:Taxa named by George Arnott Walker Arnott]]