# Zanthoxylum coco

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Zanthoxylum_coco
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Zanthoxylum_coco.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zanthoxylum_coco
> Source revision: 1287761355
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Species of tree

Zanthoxylum coco Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Clade: Embryophytes Clade: Tracheophytes Clade: Spermatophytes Clade: Angiosperms Clade: Eudicots Clade: Rosids Order: Sapindales Family: Rutaceae Genus: Zanthoxylum Species: Z. coco Binomial name Zanthoxylum coco Gillies ex Hook. & Arn. (1833)[1] Synonyms[1] Fagara coco (Gillies ex Hook. & Arn.) Engl. (1896) Zanthoxylum stipitatum Engl. (1874)

***Zanthoxylum coco*** (also known as *Fagara coco*) is an evergreen tree of the family [Rutaceae](/source/Rutaceae), native to [Argentina](/source/Argentina) and [Bolivia](/source/Bolivia) where it grows in the wild, mostly in spiniferous forests of the low mountain ranges of the western [Chaco](/source/Gran_Chaco). It is characteristic of the hill forest of the [Sierras Pampeanas](/source/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](/source/Evergreen) with [imparipinnate](/source/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 [petals](/source/Petal) and are arranged in [paniculate](/source/Paniculate) inflorescences. The fruit is spherically shaped, [dehiscent](/source/Dehiscence_(botany)); containing a shiny blackish seed.[2] The whole plant has a characteristic unpleasant smell, hence the alternative name "smelly sauco".[3]

## Biochemistry

Even though unused in the general botanical pharmacopeia, *Zanthoxylum coco* tissues are very rich in [alkaloids](/source/Alkaloid). γ-[Fagarine](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fagarine&action=edit&redlink=1), [N-methylisocorydine](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=N-methylisocoridine&action=edit&redlink=1), [skimminianine](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eskimminianine&action=edit&redlink=1), [α-fagarine](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=%CE%91-fagarine&action=edit&redlink=1), [fagarine-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fagarine-2&action=edit&redlink=1), [magnoflorine](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Magnoflorinne&action=edit&redlink=1), [nitidine](/source/Nitidine), [chelerythrine](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cheleritrinne&action=edit&redlink=1), [berberine](/source/Berberine), [palmatine](/source/Palmatine) and [candicine](/source/Candicine) have been isolated from the foliage and wood.[4]

## Taxon synonym usage

The *coco* belongs to the genus *[Zanthoxylum](/source/Zanthoxylum)*. However, most local scientific articles use *Fagara* as the genus name.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-powo_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-powo_1-1) [*Zanthoxylum coco* Gillies ex Hook. & Arn.](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:775658-1) *[Plants of the World Online](/source/Plants_of_the_World_Online)*. Retrieved 29 May 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Stucker, G.V.: (1930), Contribución al estudio del Fagara coco, Congreso Internacional de Biología, Montevideo, Oct. 1930.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Fernández Rua, R.: (1933), El alcaloide de la corteza del Fagara coco: la fagaridina, Córdoba, folleto - 12 pp. y tablas.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Boelcke, O.: (1989) Plantas vasculares de la Argentina - Bs.As., Ed. H. Sur, 2da. reimpresión, 171 - 369 pp.

- 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.

Taxon identifiers Zanthoxylum coco Wikidata: Q3339238 Wikispecies: Zanthoxylum coco BOLD: 1098931 CoL: 5CWDH FNA: 242428297 GBIF: 3832175 GRIN: 42189 iNaturalist: 887202 IPNI: 775658-1 IUCN: 158461856 NCBI: 2099532 Open Tree of Life: 5747726 Plant List: tro-28101456 POWO: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:775658-1 Tropicos: 28101456 WFO: wfo-0001133181

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Zanthoxylum coco](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zanthoxylum_coco) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zanthoxylum_coco?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.