Xanthosoma sagittifolium
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643ff0e093794183741280 |
| Scientific name | Xanthosoma sagittifolium |
| Authority | (L.) Schott |
| First published in | Melet. Bot. : 19 (1832) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Ethnobotanical Uses
In the Caribbean, a tea of the leaves is prepared for stomachaches among people in Haiti and in parts of eastern Cuba, and the fresh latex from cut stems is applied as a soothing dressing on minor wounds and burns, a practice documented by TRAMIL (2016). In the Amazon, healers among the Ka’apor of Brazil collect leaf sap to dress abrasions and superficial skin infections (Berg and ElISABETH, 2005). Along the Orinoco and among the Warao of Venezuela, boiled leaves are taken as a bitter decoction to stimulate digestion and ease abdominal discomfort, a use noted by Rivero et al. (2006). Among Quechua communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon and Andean foothills, the cooked leaf is commonly eaten as a “tostado” or “caldo verde” and the juice is believed to calm colic (DeFilipps, 2000; Liogier, 1990). In West Africa, where the species is cultivated as a root vegetable, leafy infusions are occasionally taken for mild digestive upset; this food-related remedy is described in several regional ethnobotanical surveys (Etkin, 2008).
A practical, safe digestive tea can be prepared by simmering 10–15 g of fresh young leaves in 500 mL of water for 10–15 minutes, then straining and cooling before use; drink a small cup once or twice a day with meals. Because the plant contains calcium oxalate raphides, the leaves should be washed thoroughly, chopped finely, and boiled well; children, pregnant or nursing individuals, and people with a history of kidney stones should avoid use or seek advice before drinking infusions (TRAMIL, 2016; WHO, 2006).
Well-established constituents in the foliage include calcium oxalate raphides and soluble oxalates, which, together with dietary fiber and mineral salts, plausibly explain the gentle bowel-regulating effect seen in food and tea preparations (Liogier, 1990). Minor flavonoids and phenolic acids are also reported but are not the main drivers of the activity.
Today, the species remains a key staple and leafy vegetable in many tropical diets, with limited medicinal teas sold by local markets in Haiti and along the Amazonian margin. Modern interest centers on its agronomy, food security potential, and clinical testing for gut comfort—preliminary studies suggest modest dietary fiber and mineral contributions may be relevant (TRAMIL, 2016; WHO, 2006).
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
Edible corm/cormel starch and gluten-free flour, used to produce chips, boiled/steamed tubers, and baked goods.
Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
Mature tubers are processed into chips and flour; young leaves and petioles are consumed as leafy vegetables after cooking. Flour is used as a thickening agent and for breads, pancakes, and desserts. In Venezuela and the Caribbean, “yautía” is a staple root crop; exported corms are processed into flour and chips for regional markets.
Properties relevant to use:
Xanthosoma starch has small, polygonal granules (approximately 5–15 μm) with high amylose content (approximately 30–35%) and low mineral ash (approximately 0.1–0.2% on dry basis), yielding stable pastes and clear cooked films. Frying oils containing 10% yautía starch show higher induction times under Rancimat conditions than refined soybean oil, indicating improved oxidative stability. These physicochemical properties support its use as a thickening and film-forming ingredient in foods, and as a frying oil stabilizer additive in culinary applications.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Philodendron nigrum | Kunth | Enum. Pl. 3: 52 (1841) |
| Arum sagittifolium | L. | Sp. Pl. : 966 (1753) |
| Arum xanthorrhizon | Jacq. | Pl. Hort. Schoenbr. 2: 32 (1797) |
| Xanthosoma appendiculatum | Schott | Oesterr. Bot. Wochenbl. 4: 417 (1854) |
| Xanthosoma atrovirens | K.Koch & C.D.Bouché | Index Seminum (B, Berolinensis) 1854(App.): 3 (1855) |
| Xanthosoma atrovirens var. appendiculatum | (Schott) Engl. | Monogr. Phan. 2: 476 (1879) |
| Xanthosoma edule | hort. ex Schott | Melet. Bot. : 19 (1832) |
| Xanthosoma ianthinum | K.Koch & C.D.Bouché | Index Seminum (B, Berolinensis) 1854(App.): 2 (1855) |
| Xanthosoma jacquinii | Schott | Syn. Aroid. 56. 1856 (1856) |
| Xanthosoma maculatum | G.Nicholson | Proc. Roy. Hort. Soc. London , n.s., 1: 660 (1861) |
| Xanthosoma mafaffa | Schott | Arac. Betreff. 2: 5 (1855) |
| Xanthosoma nigrum | (Vell.) Stellfeld | Tribuna Farm. 12: 201 (1944) |
| Xanthosoma peregrinum | Griseb. | Fl. Brit. W. I. : 511 (1864) |
| Xanthosoma roseum | Schott | Oesterr. Bot. Z. 8: 178 (1858) |
| Xanthosoma utile | K.Koch & C.D.Bouché | Index Seminum (B, Berolinensis) 1854(App.): 2 (1855) |
| Xanthosoma violaceum | Schott | Oesterr. Bot. Wochenbl. 3: 370 (1853) |
| Xanthosoma wallisii | hort. | Gard. Chron. 1869: 587 (sphalm. Wiallichi). |
| Xanthosoma xanthorrhizon | K.Koch | Bonplandia (Hannover) 4: 4 (1856) |
| Caladium edule | G.Mey. | Prim. Fl. Esseq. : 272 (1818) |
| Caladium mafaffa | hort. ex Engl. | Monogr. Phan. 2: 471 (1879) |
| Caladium sagittifolium | (L.) Vent. | Descr. Pl. Nouv. : t. 30 (1801) |
| Caladium utile | hort. ex Engl. | Monogr. Phan. 2: 469 (1879) |
| Caladium xanthorrhizon | (Jacq.) Willd. | Sp. Pl., ed. 4 , 4: 490 (1805) |
| Xanthosoma atrovirens var. hybridum | K.Koch | Index Seminum (B, Berolinensis) 1854(App.): 3 (1855) |
| Xanthosoma atrovirens var. kochii | Engl. | Pflanzenr. , IV, 23E: 50 (1920) |
| Xanthosoma atrovirens var. moritzii | Engl. | Pflanzenr. , IV, 23E: 51 (1920) |
| Xanthosoma atrovirens var. panduriforme | Engl. | Pflanzenr. , IV, 23E: 51 (1920) |
| Xanthosoma atrovirens var. versicolor | K.Koch | Index Seminum (B, Berolinensis) 1854(App.): 3 (1855) |
| Xanthosoma mafaffa var. blandum | (Schott) Engl. | Fl. Bras. 3(2): 193 (1878) |
| Xanthosoma poeppigii var. mafaffa | J.F.Macbr. | Publ. Field Columb. Mus., Bot. Ser. 11: 8 (1931) |
| Xanthosoma aureum | E.G.Gonç. | Aroideana 34: 8 (2011) |
| Xanthosoma monstruosum | E.G.Gonç. | Aroideana 34: 13 (2011) |
| Xanthosoma panduriforme | E.G.Gonç. | Aroideana 34: 15 (2011) |
| Alocasia talipan | Elmer ex Merr. | Enum. Philipp. Fl. Pl. 1: 185 (1922) |
| Xanthosoma mafaffa var. typicum | Engl. | Pflanzenr. , IV, 23E: 51 (1920) |
| Arum nigrum | Vell. | Fl. Flumin. 9: 386, t. 107 (1831 publ. 1881) |
| Xanthosoma obtusilobum | Engl. | Pflanzenr. , IV, 23E: 53 (1920) |
| Xanthosoma sagittifolium | K.Koch | Index Seminum (B, Berolinensis) 1854(App.): 2 (1854) |
| Alocasia alboviolacea | Veitch ex J.Dix | Proc. Roy. Hort. Soc. London 2: 673 (1862) |
| Xanthosoma jacquinii | Schott | Melet. Bot. : 19 (1832) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | malanga |
| English | malangas |
| English | tannia |
| English | arrowleaf elephant's ear |
| Spanish | oreja de elefante |
| Spanish | mangarito |
| Spanish | mangarás |
| Spanish | mangaras |
| Spanish | mangara-mirim |
| Arabic | خشيلاء سهمية النصل |
| German | malanga |
| German | tannia |
| Esperanto | tanio |
| Estonian | malanga kollavõhk |
| French | macabo |
| guc | waü |
| Korean | 아메리카토란 |
| nia | kamumu |
| Dutch | tayer |
| Dutch | tayerblad |
| Dutch | tajerblad |
| Dutch | tajer |
| Dutch | tannia |
| Polish | Żółtosocza strzałkowata |
| Portuguese | macabo |
| Portuguese | taioba |
| Portuguese | mangará |
| Quechua | walusa |
| Russian | Маланга |
| Russian | Танния |
| Sango | mboö |
| ty | taruā |
| Vietnamese | khoai mùng |
| Chinese | 黄肉芋 |
| Chinese | 紫柄芋 |
| Chinese | 千年芋 |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!
No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
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Africa click to expand
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South Tropical Africa
- Zimbabwe
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West Tropical Africa
- Benin
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
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West-central Tropical Africa
- Gabon
- Gulf Of Guinea Islands
- Zaïre
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South Tropical Africa
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Asia-tropical click to expand
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Indian Subcontinent
- Bangladesh
- India
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Malesia
- Borneo
- Christmas Island
- Malaya
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Indian Subcontinent
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Australasia click to expand
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Australia
- Norfolk Island
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Australia
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Northern America click to expand
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Mexico
- Mexico Southeast
- Mexico Southwest
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Southeastern U.S.A.
- Alabama
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Mexico
-
Pacific click to expand
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Northwestern Pacific
- Caroline Islands
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South-central Pacific
- Cook Islands
- Easter Island
- Marquesas
- Society Islands
- Tuamotu
- Tubuai Islands
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Southwestern Pacific
- Gilbert Islands
- Niue
- Vanuatu
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Northwestern Pacific
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Southern America click to expand
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Brazil
- Brazil North
- Brazil Northeast
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Caribbean
- Cayman Islands
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Haiti
- Jamaica
- Leeward Islands
- Puerto Rico
- Trinidad-Tobago
- Venezuelan Antilles
- Windward Islands
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Central America
- Costa Rica
- Honduras
- Nicaragua
- Panamá
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Northern South America
- Venezuela
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Western South America
- Bolivia
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Galápagos
- Peru
-
Brazil
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000334780 |
| Florida Plant Atlas | 216 |
| Flora of Alabama | 5437 |
| USDA Plants | XASA2 |
| Tropicos | 2106169 |
| INPN | 447741 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:89373-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-215144 |
| Missouri Botanical Garden | 276540 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 647114 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 28478 |
| Nature Serve | 2.146922 |
| IPNI | 89373-1 |
| iNaturalist | 154794 |
| GBIF | 5330901 |
| Freebase | /m/04633kk |
| EPPO | XATSA |
| EOL | 1127738 |
| USDA GRIN | 42090 |
| Wikipedia | Xanthosoma_sagittifolium |
| Tropicos | 2104712 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:269331-2 |
| The Plant List | kew-215123 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 3999090 |
| IPNI | 269331-2 |
| iNaturalist | 277337 |
| GBIF | 5330982 |
| EOL | 1127752 |
| CMAUP | NPO23038 |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acyl glycosides / Fatty acyl glycosides of mono- and disaccharides | |||||
| (3R)-3-(beta-D-Glucopyranosyloxy)-5-phenylpentanoic acid butyl ester | 10693008 | Click to see CCCCOC(=O)CC(CCC1=CC=CC=C1)OC2C(C(C(C(O2)CO)O)O)O | 412.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (3R)-5-phenyl-3-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxypentanoic acid | 11792570 | Click to see | 356.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Dicarboxylic acids and derivatives | |||||
| Oxalic Acid | 971 | Click to see | 90.03 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.46429/JAUPR.V69I2.7340 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / 8-prenylated flavones | |||||
| 8-[(2S,3R,4S)-3,4-dihydroxy-4-(hydroxymethyl)oxolan-2-yl]-5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-6-[(2S,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]chromen-4-one | 162938929 | Click to see | 564.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF030284H |
| 8-[(2S,3S,4R)-3,4-dihydroxy-4-(hydroxymethyl)oxolan-2-yl]-5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-6-[(2S,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]chromen-4-one | 11006262 | Click to see | 564.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF030284H |
| 8-[3,4-Dihydroxy-4-(hydroxymethyl)oxolan-2-yl]-5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-6-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]chromen-4-one | 74977461 | Click to see | 564.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF030284H |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid C-glycosides | |||||
| 5,7-Dihydroxy-2-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-6-(3,4,5-Trihydroxy-6-(Hydroxymethyl)Oxan-2-Yl)Chromen-4-One | 4475102 | Click to see | 432.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF030284H |
| 5,7-Dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-6-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]chromen-4-one | 74977462 | Click to see | 594.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF030284H |
| Isovitexin | 162350 | Click to see | 432.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF030284H |
| Isovitexin 6''-O-Glucoside | 10603568 | Click to see | 594.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF030284H |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid C-glycosides / Flavonoid 8-C-glycosides | |||||
| 5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-6,8-bis[(2S,4R,5S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]chromen-4-one | 44257674 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C(=C(C(=C3O2)C4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)C5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O)O)O | 594.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF030284H |
| 5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-8-[(2S,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]chromen-4-one | 5378180 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(O2)C(=C(C=C3O)O)C4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O | 432.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF030284H |
| 5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-8-[(2S,3S,4R,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]chromen-4-one | 162928507 | Click to see | 594.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF030284H |
| Vicenin 2 | 3084407 | Click to see | 594.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF030284H |
| Vicenin 2 | 442664 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C(=C(C(=C3O2)C4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)C5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O)O)O | 594.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF030284H |
| Vitexin | 5280441 | Click to see | 432.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF030284H |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glucuronides / Flavonoid-3-O-glucuronides | |||||
| Querciturone | 5274585 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)C(=O)O)O)O)O)O)O | 478.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides | |||||
| 1-[2-hydroxy-3,6-dimethoxy-4-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxyphenyl]-3-phenylpropan-1-one | 10699171 | Click to see | 626.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 5,7-dihydroxy-6-[(2S,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]-2-[4-[(2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxyphenyl]chromen-4-one | 163003712 | Click to see | 578.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF030284H |
| 5,7-dihydroxy-6-[(2S,3R,4R,5S,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]-2-[4-[(2S,3S,4R,5R,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxyphenyl]chromen-4-one | 163003711 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2=CC=C(C=C2)C3=CC(=O)C4=C(O3)C=C(C(=C4O)C5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O)O)O)O)O | 578.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF030284H |
| 5,7-Dihydroxy-6-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]-2-[4-(3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl)oxyphenyl]chromen-4-one | 74977500 | Click to see | 578.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/JF030284H |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides | |||||
| [(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-2-[2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-4-oxo-chromen-3-yl]oxy-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydropyran-3-yl] 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate | 5480249 | Click to see | 616.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Astragalin | 5282102 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O | 448.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Hyperoside | 5281643 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O | 464.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Isoquercetin | 5280804 | Click to see | 464.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Trifolin | 5282149 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O | 448.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |