The open plant encyclopedia
Snap a photo or search by any name to see how to care for it, where it comes from, whether it's safe, and a 3D model you can turn.
The plants people record most in your country, and ones that grow there wild.
Filter by what you want to do, shape, origin, country, care and safety.
Casearia sylvestris
Also called Wild Sage
Casearia sylvestris, most commonly known as guaçatonga, is a species of flowering plant in the family Salicaceae.
This plant has a very wide distribution, extending from Mexico down to Argentina, throughout the near entirety of Latin America. It grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome but is also common in moist secondary forests and open disturbed areas. Its range spans elevations from 0–2,800 m (0–9,186 ft), reaching heights where cloud forests develop. While it is most abundant in lowland forests, including tropical rainforest and tropical dry forest, it is also found in oak forests and thrives in secondary vegetation.
Casearia sylvestris is a highly adaptive perennial species and demonstrates ecological and genetic diversity, playing a significant role in ecosystems such as the Cerrado, Atlantic Forest, gallery forests, and wetland. Studies have revealed adaptive wood anatomical features, including variations in vessel frequency and ray width, which enhance survival strategies in response to environmental pressures like drought. Research into genetic structures highlights the species’ ability to adapt to restoration processes and natural habitats, showcasing higher genetic variability in restored forests compared to remnants of semi-deciduous seasonal forests. Population genetic studies emphasize the differentiation between sympatric and allopatric subordinate taxa of the taxon, revealing hybridization and genome duplication as factors contributing to the genetic diversity and adaptation of this species. The integration of genetic and ecological findings supports the recognition of distinct evolutionary units, aiding in conservation and restoration efforts.
In traditional medicine, Casearia sylvestris is used to treat inflammation, skin lesions, and microbial infections. Steaped in water, the leaves and bark are also regarded to be a useful laxative and to help with rheumatic disorders. Research into the essential oils is ongoing.
Casearia albicans · Casearia atlantica · Casearia barteri · Casearia bartlettii · Casearia coriifolia · Casearia crassinervis · Casearia engleri · Casearia flavovirens · Casearia flexula · Casearia gladiiformis · Casearia graveolens · Casearia kaalaensis
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Casearia sylvestris by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
