''Duroia'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

s in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Rubiaceae Rubiaceae () is a family (biology), family of flowering plants, commonly known as the coffee, madder, or bedstraw family. It consists of terrestrial trees, shrubs, lianas, or herbs that are recognizable by simple, opposite leaves with Petiole ( ...

. The genus is found from

Costa Rica Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica, is a country in Central America. It borders Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, Panama to the southeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, as well as Maritime bo ...

to tropical South America.

Ecology

A number of ''Duroia'' species, and possibly all, are capable of biochemical interactions inhibiting the growth of neighbouring plants. Analysis of root extracts from '' Duroia hirsuta'' have yielded a strong plant growth inhibitor plumericin, a

tetracyclic Tetracyclics are cyclic compound, cyclic chemical compounds that contain four fused ring (chemistry), rings of atoms, for example, Tröger's base. Some tricyclic compounds having three fused and one tethered ring (connected to main nucleus by ...

iridoid Iridoids are a type of monoterpenoids in the general form of cyclopentanopyran, found in a wide variety of plants and some animals. They are biosynthetically derived from 8-oxogeranial. Iridoids are typically found in plants as glycosides, mo ...

lactone Lactones are cyclic carboxylic esters. They are derived from the corresponding hydroxycarboxylic acids by esterification. They can be saturated or unsaturated. Lactones are formed by lactonization, the intramolecular esterification of the corresp ...

. This process, common amongst plants, is termed

allelopathy Allelopathy is a biological phenomenon by which an organism produces one or more biochemicals that influence the germination, growth, survival, and reproduction of other organisms. These biochemicals are known as allelochemicals and can have ben ...

. In the case of ''Duroia hirsuta'', the chemical inhibitor is aided by the leafcutter ant '' Myrmelachista schumanni'' resident on and in the tree, and playing an active role in suppressing and destroying plant growth in the vicinity of their host by injecting and spraying

formic acid Formic acid (), systematically named methanoic acid, is the simplest carboxylic acid. It has the chemical formula HCOOH and structure . This acid is an important intermediate in chemical synthesis and occurs naturally, most notably in some an ...

. The area around the

understory In forestry and ecology, understory (American English), or understorey (English in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth English), also known as underbrush or undergrowth, includes plant life growing beneath the Canopy (biology), forest ca ...

species ''Duroia hirsuta'' is often devoid of all other plant types, leading to the local name '

Devil's garden In myrmecology and forest ecology, a devil's garden (Kichwa language, Kichwa: ''Supay chakra''Frederickson, M. E., & Gordon, D. (2007). The devil to pay: the cost of mutualism with ''Myrmelachista schumanni'' ants in 'devil's gardens' is increased ...

'. The cost to the host plant for this protection is considerable, since the resident ants subject the tree to increased leaf cutting.

Species

*'' Duroia amapana'' Steyerm. *''

Duroia aquatica ''Duroia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. The genus is found from Costa Rica to tropical South America. Ecology A number of ''Duroia'' species, and possibly all, are capable of biochemical interactions inhibiting the gr ...

'' ( Aubl.) Bremek. *''

Duroia bolivarensis ''Duroia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. The genus is found from Costa Rica to tropical South America. Ecology A number of ''Duroia'' species, and possibly all, are capable of biochemical interactions inhibiting the gr ...

'' Steyerm. *''

Duroia costaricensis ''Duroia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. The genus is found from Costa Rica to tropical South America. Ecology A number of ''Duroia'' species, and possibly all, are capable of biochemical interactions inhibiting the gr ...

'' Standl. *''

Duroia duckei ''Duroia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. The genus is found from Costa Rica to tropical South America. Ecology A number of ''Duroia'' species, and possibly all, are capable of biochemical interactions inhibiting the gr ...

'' Huber *'' Duroia eriopila'' L.f. *''

Duroia fusifera ''Duroia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. The genus is found from Costa Rica to tropical South America. Ecology A number of ''Duroia'' species, and possibly all, are capable of biochemical interactions inhibiting the gr ...

Spruce A spruce is a tree of the genus ''Picea'' ( ), a genus of about 40 species of coniferous evergreen trees in the family Pinaceae, found in the northern temperate and boreal ecosystem, boreal (taiga) regions of the Northern hemisphere. ''Picea'' ...

ex K.Schum. *'' Duroia genipoides''

ex K.Schum. *''

Duroia gransabanensis ''Duroia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the Family (biology), family Rubiaceae. The genus is found from Costa Rica to tropical South America. Ecology A number of ''Duroia'' species, and possibly all, are capable of biochemical interactions ...

'' Steyerm. *'' Duroia hirsuta'' (Poepp.) K.Schum. *'' Duroia hirsutissima'' Steyerm. *'' Duroia kotchubioides'' Steyerm. *'' Duroia laevis'' Devia Perss. & C.M.Taylor *'' Duroia longiflora'' Ducke *'' Duroia longifolia'' (Poepp.) K.Schum. *'' Duroia macrophylla'' Huber *'' Duroia maguirei'' Steyerm. *'' Duroia martiniana'' ( Miers) Bremek. *'' Duroia melinonii'' Standl. *'' Duroia merumensis'' Steyerm. *'' Duroia micrantha'' (Ladbr.) Zarucchi & J.H.Kirkbr. *'' Duroia nitida'' Steyerm. *'' Duroia palustris'' Ducke *'' Duroia paraensis'' Ducke *'' Duroia paruensis'' Steyerm. *'' Duroia petiolaris''

ex K.Schum. *'' Duroia plicata'' Benoist *'' Duroia prancei'' Steyerm. *'' Duroia retrorsipila'' Steyerm. *'' Duroia saccifera'' (

Mart. Carl Friedrich Philipp (Karl Friedrich Philipp) von Martius (17 April 1794 – 13 December 1868) was a German botany, botanist and explorer. Between 1817 and 1820, he travelled 10,000 km through Brazil while collecting botanical specimens. His m ...

ex Schult. & Schult.f.) K.Schum. *'' Duroia sancti-ciprianii'' Devia Perss. & C.M.Taylor *'' Duroia soejartoi'' D.R.Simpson *'' Duroia steinbachii'' Standl. *'' Duroia strigosa'' Steyerm. *'' Duroia trichocarpa'' Standl. *'' Duroia triflora'' Ducke *'' Duroia valesca'' C.H.Perss. & Delprete *'' Duroia velutina'' Hook.f. ex K.Schum.

References

External links

''Duroia'' in the World Checklist of Rubiaceae

New York Botanical Garden
Rubiaceae genera Cordiereae {{Ixoroideae-stub