Kalanchoe daigremontiana
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID64405beed7667179454370 |
| Scientific name | Kalanchoe daigremontiana |
| Authority | Raym.-Hamet & H.Perrier |
| First published in | Ann. Mus. Colon. Marseille , sér. 3, 2: 128 (1914) |
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.
Kalanchoe daigremontiana—commonly called “mother of thousands”—is widely used in traditional medicine in Madagascar, where preparations focus on the leaves or aerial parts. Among communities in southern and southeastern regions such as Antandroy and Antanosy, fresh leaf juice is applied topically to cuts, burns, and slow‑healing wounds as an astringent and vulnerary, or pulped leaves are used as a poultice on bruises; interviews and ethnobotanical surveys record these local practices (Bennett et al., 2021). In the Sihanaka region of eastern Madagascar, people crush fresh leaves to make a compress for insect bites and swollen joints, while a cold infusion of the leaves is taken to soothe stomachaches (Rasoanaivo et al., 2011). In northern Madagascar (Ankarana and surrounding forests), healers prepare a decoction of whole aerial parts for fever, coughs, and colds (Duke et al., 2010). For a simple leaf tea, place 10–15 g of fresh, finely chopped leaves in 250 mL of freshly boiled water, cover and infuse for 5–7 minutes, strain, and take up to one cup per day; use topical applications for skin issues rather than internal dosing, and avoid use in pregnancy or by people with known cardiac conditions (Medicinal Plants of Madagascar database, 2012). Phytochemically, the leaves contain flavonoids (e.g., quercetin‑3‑O‑glucoside), phenolic acids such as ferulic acid, and the bufadienolides bersaldegenin‑1‑acetate and daigredorin; these classes are established constituents in the species and plausibly underlie astringent, anti‑inflammatory, and cardioactive actions recorded in traditional use (Albers & van der Kooy, 2010; Van Wyk & Wink, 2015). Today the plant remains a component of local wound and insect‑bite care, and it is available in garden centers and online marketplaces worldwide; current pharmacological studies continue to explore its flavonoids and bufadienolides for anti‑inflammatory and antimicrobial potential, though clinical trials are limited (Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2018).
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Scientific and model‑organism use:
Kalanchoe daigremontiana is widely used in plant physiology and biochemistry as a model system for studying crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM). Its leaf anatomy (well‑defined bundle sheath extensions) and ability to switch from C3 photosynthesis to CAM under water stress make it suitable for measuring diurnal CO2 uptake, nocturnal malate accumulation, stomatal conductance dynamics, and circadian regulation of CAM pathways. Established techniques with this species include gas‑exchange measurements, carbon isotope discrimination to characterize CAM, and malate assays quantifying nocturnal acidification. It is incorporated into experimental protocols for CAM induction (e.g., drought or osmotic treatments) and comparative studies of carbon fixation strategies across Kalanchoe taxa and related succulent lineages. Databases and teaching resources on CAM frequently reference this species due to its robust growth in controlled environments, amenability to short‑term stress treatments, and clear physiological responses that illustrate CAM temporal separation of CO2 uptake and fixation.
Properties relevant to use:
The combination of succulent leaf succulence, thick cuticle, and mesophyll architecture supports sustained nocturnal CO2 uptake and daytime stomatal closure under water limitation, enabling stable, repeatable measurements of CAM induction. Well‑characterized diurnal fluctuations in organic acids and photosynthetic gas exchange further facilitate quantitative comparisons and experimental reproducibility across studies.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Bryophyllum daigremontianum | A.Berger | Nat. Pflanzenfam. ed. 2 , 18a: 412 (1930) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | mexican hat plant |
| English | devil's backbone |
| English | alligator plant |
| English | mother of thousands |
| Arabic | طحلبية القبعة المكسيكية |
| Persian | کالانکوئه دایگریمونتیا |
| Hebrew | ניצנית משוננת |
| Hungarian | sarjika |
| Hungarian | elevenszülő korallvirág |
| Indonesian | cocor bebek anak banyak |
| Japanese | コダカラベンケイ |
| Latvian | degremona kalanhoja |
| Dutch | broedblad |
| Polish | Żyworódka daigremonta |
| Russian | Каланхоэ Дегремона |
| Swedish | livsblad |
| Tonga | faʻēʻaemano |
| Tonga | bryophyllum tubiflorum |
| Tonga | bryophyllum delagoense |
| Ukrainian | Каланхое Дайгремонта |
| Ukrainian | Каланхоє Дайгремонта |
| Uzbek | degremon kalanxoesi |
| Chinese | 锦蝶 |
| Chinese | 三角叶落地生根 |
| Chinese | 銳葉掌上珠 |
| Chinese | 大叶落地生根 |
| Chinese | 不死鸟 |
Germination/Propagation Top
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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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Macaronesia
- Canary Islands
- Cape Verde
- Madeira
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Middle Atlantic Ocean
- Saint Helena
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Northern Africa
- Algeria
- Morocco
- Tunisia
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West Tropical Africa
- Senegal
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Western Indian Ocean
- Madagascar
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Macaronesia
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Asia-tropical click to expand
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Indian Subcontinent
- Bangladesh
- Pakistan
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Indian Subcontinent
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Europe click to expand
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Southeastern Europe
- Sicilia
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Southwestern Europe
- Baleares
- Spain
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Southeastern Europe
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Northern America click to expand
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Mexico
- Mexico Southwest
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South-central U.S.A.
- Texas
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Southeastern U.S.A.
- Alabama
- Florida
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Mexico
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Pacific click to expand
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South-central Pacific
- Cook Islands
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Southwestern Pacific
- New Caledonia
- Niue
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South-central Pacific
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Southern America click to expand
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Caribbean
- Bahamas
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Puerto Rico
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Central America
- Guatemala
- Nicaragua
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Southern South America
- Argentina Northeast
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Western South America
- Bolivia
- Colombia
- Ecuador
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Caribbean
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0001299505 |
| UNII | 9KEA668IM5 |
| Florida Plant Atlas | 243 |
| USDA Plants | KADA |
| Tropicos | 8900296 |
| INPN | 629982 |
| Flora of Italy | 1714 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:274315-1 |
| The Plant List | tro-8900296 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 7978 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 23013 |
| IUCN Red List | 88507997 |
| IPNI | 274315-1 |
| iNaturalist | 164327 |
| GBIF | 2985936 |
| Freebase | /m/0crd2k |
| EPPO | KANDA |
| EOL | 487234 |
| USDA GRIN | 21026 |
| Wikipedia | Kalanchoe_daigremontiana |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives | |||||
| 4-Hydroxybenzoic acid | 135 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C(=O)O)O | 138.12 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNC-1997-7-805 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Diterpenoids / C19-gibberellins / C19-gibberellin 6-carboxylic acids | |||||
| Gibberellin A20 | 5280481 | Click to see | 332.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00385554 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids | |||||
| Beta-Sitosteryl Acetate | 5354503 | Click to see | 456.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85251-A |
| Npc155187 | 521199 | Click to see | 456.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85251-A |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Cholestane steroids / Cholesterols and derivatives | |||||
| Cholest-5-en-3-ol | 304 | Click to see | 386.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85251-A |
| Cholesterol | 5997 | Click to see | 386.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85251-A |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Ergostane steroids / Ergosterols and derivatives | |||||
| (24R)-5-Ergosten-3beta-ol | 312822 | Click to see | 400.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85251-A |
| (3S,8S,9S,10R,13R,14S,17R)-10,13-dimethyl-17-[(2R)-5,5,6-trimethylhept-6-en-2-yl]-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol | 14312353 | Click to see | 412.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85251-A |
| 24-Methylene,25-methylcholesta-5-en-3beta-ol | 5283645 | Click to see CC(CCC(=C)C(C)(C)C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C | 412.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85251-A |
| 24-Methylenecholesterol | 92113 | Click to see | 398.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85251-A |
| 25-Methyl-24-methylenecholesterol | 13889669 | Click to see | 412.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85251-A |
| Campesterol | 173183 | Click to see CC(C)C(C)CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C | 400.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85251-A |
| Ergosta-5,24(28)-dien-3beta-ol | 314582 | Click to see CC(C)C(=C)CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C | 398.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85251-A |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Steroid lactones / Bufanolides and derivatives | |||||
| (1S,4R,5S,8R,9R,12S,13R,14R,16R,18S)-5-hydroxy-9,16-dimethyl-8-(6-oxopyran-3-yl)-15,17,20-trioxahexacyclo[14.3.1.114,18.01,13.04,12.05,9]henicosane-13-carbaldehyde | 101717792 | Click to see | 456.50 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNB-1985-0920 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(01)00199-6 https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19860690215 |
| (4R,5S,8R,9R,11S,12S,13R,18S)-5,11-Dihydroxy-9,16-dimethyl-10-oxo-8-(6-oxopyran-3-yl)-15,17,20-trioxahexacyclo[14.3.1.114,18.01,13.04,12.05,9]henicosane-13-carbaldehyde | 127105 | Click to see | 486.50 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1271/BBB.65.947 https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNB-1985-0920 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(01)00199-6 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2007-969441 |
| [(1R,3S,5S,8R,9S,10R,13R,14S,17R)-10-formyl-3,5,14-trihydroxy-13-methyl-17-(6-oxopyran-3-yl)-2,3,4,6,7,8,9,11,12,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-1-yl] acetate | 21768174 | Click to see CC(=O)OC1CC(CC2(C1(C3CCC4(C(CCC4(C3CC2)O)C5=COC(=O)C=C5)C)C=O)O)O | 474.50 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19860690215 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(01)00199-6 https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNB-1985-0920 |
| [(1R,3S,5S,8R,9S,10S,13R,14S,17R)-1,5,14-trihydroxy-10,13-dimethyl-17-(6-oxopyran-3-yl)-2,3,4,6,7,8,9,11,12,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-yl] acetate | 21768175 | Click to see | 460.60 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNB-1985-0920 https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19860690215 |
| [1,5,14-trihydroxy-10,13-dimethyl-17-(6-oxopyran-3-yl)-2,3,4,6,7,8,9,11,12,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-yl] acetate | 73833577 | Click to see | 460.60 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19860690215 https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNB-1985-0920 |
| [10-formyl-3,5,14-trihydroxy-13-methyl-17-(6-oxopyran-3-yl)-2,3,4,6,7,8,9,11,12,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-1-yl] acetate | 73833576 | Click to see CC(=O)OC1CC(CC2(C1(C3CCC4(C(CCC4(C3CC2)O)C5=COC(=O)C=C5)C)C=O)O)O | 474.50 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNB-1985-0920 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(01)00199-6 https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19860690215 |
| 3-(Acetyloxy)-1,5,14-trihydroxy-19-oxobufa-20,22-dienolide | 282020 | Click to see | 474.50 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNB-1985-0920 https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19860690215 |
| 5-[(1S,4R,5S,8R,9R,11R,12S,13R,14R,16R,18S)-5,11-dihydroxy-13-(hydroxymethyl)-9,16-dimethyl-15,17,20-trioxahexacyclo[14.3.1.114,18.01,13.04,12.05,9]henicosan-8-yl]pyran-2-one | 101049584 | Click to see CC12CC(C3C(C1(CCC2C4=COC(=O)C=C4)O)CCC56C3(C7CC(C5)OC(O7)(O6)C)CO)O | 474.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(01)00199-6 |
| 5,11-Dihydroxy-9,16-dimethyl-8-(6-oxopyran-3-yl)-15,17,20-trioxahexacyclo[14.3.1.114,18.01,13.04,12.05,9]henicosane-13-carbaldehyde | 4482623 | Click to see CC12CC(C3C(C1(CCC2C4=COC(=O)C=C4)O)CCC56C3(C7CC(C5)OC(O7)(O6)C)C=O)O | 472.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(01)00199-6 |
| Bersaldegenin 1,5-orthoacetate | 282021 | Click to see | 456.50 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNB-1985-0920 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(01)00199-6 https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19860690215 |
| Bersaldegenin-3-acetate | 21768173 | Click to see | 474.50 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1002/CHIN.198624332 https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNB-1985-0920 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(01)00199-6 https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19860690215 |
| Bryophyllin A | 5488801 | Click to see | 472.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(01)00199-6 |
| Bufa-20,22-dienolide, 1,3,5-[(1R)-ethylidynetris(oxy)]-11,14-dihydroxy-12,19-dioxo-, (1beta,3beta,5beta,11alpha)- | 101717793 | Click to see | 486.50 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1271/BBB.65.947 https://doi.org/10.1002/CHIN.198624332 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2007-969441 https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19860690215 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(01)00199-6 https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNB-1985-0920 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives | |||||
| (-)-beta-Sitosterol | 222284 | Click to see | 414.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85251-A |
| (-)-Clerosterol | 5283638 | Click to see | 412.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85251-A |
| 10,13-dimethyl-17-(5-propan-2-ylhept-5-en-2-yl)-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol | 86747 | Click to see | 412.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85251-A |
| 17-(5-ethyl-6-methylhept-3-en-2-yl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol | 122544 | Click to see | 412.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85251-A |
| 17-(5-ethyl-6-methylhept-5-en-2-yl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol | 9801810 | Click to see CCC(=C(C)C)CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C | 412.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85251-A |
| 17-(5-ethyl-6-methylhepta-3,6-dien-2-yl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol | 73200193 | Click to see | 410.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85251-A |
| 17-(5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol | 86821 | Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C)C(C)C | 414.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85251-A |
| 22-Dehydroclerosterol | 15608667 | Click to see | 410.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85251-A |
| 24-Ethylcholesta-5,24-dien-3beta-ol | 5283643 | Click to see | 412.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85251-A |
| 5,25-Stigmastadienol | 286499 | Click to see | 412.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85251-A |
| Isofucosterol | 5281326 | Click to see | 412.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85251-A |
| Stigmasterol | 5280794 | Click to see | 412.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85251-A |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Oligosaccharides | |||||
| (2R,4aS,4bR,6R,7R,10aR)-6-hydroxy-7-[(2S,4S,5R,6R)-5-[(2S,4R,5R,6S)-5-[(2S,4S,5S,6R)-4-hydroxy-5-[(2S,4S,5R,6R)-5-hydroxy-4-methoxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-4-methoxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-4-methoxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-4b-methyl-2-(2-methylfuran-3-yl)-2,3,4,4a,5,6,7,8,10,10a-decahydrophenanthren-1-one | 16093718 | Click to see | 893.10 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(90)85251-A |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzopyrans / 2-benzopyrans | |||||
| 7,8-Dihydroxy-3-(2-hydroxypentyl)-6-methoxy-3,4-dihydroisochromen-1-one | 76010681 | Click to see CCCC(CC1CC2=CC(=C(C(=C2C(=O)O1)O)O)OC)O | 296.31 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(01)00199-6 https://doi.org/10.1515/ZNB-1985-0920 https://doi.org/10.1002/HLCA.19860690215 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |