Abuta grandifolia

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Anelasma concolor
• Anelasma gardnerianum
• Anelasma laurifolium
• Anelasma laurifolium
• Anelasma laurifolium
• Anelasma martianum
• Anelasma spruceanum
• Trichoa concolor
• Cocculus grandifolius
• Cocculus laevigatus
• Abuta concolor
• Anelasma guianense
• Trichoa guyanensis
• Abuta guianensis
• Anelasma pallidum

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Ranunculales. Finally, it is a member of the Menispermaceae family within the genus Abuta.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several regions of the South American continent. In Northern South America, it can be found growing in French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname. Its range also extends throughout the territory of Venezuela. Moving toward the western part of the continent, the species is present in Bolivia. Together, these locations define its specific geographical footprint across the region.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Abuta grandifolia is characterized by its adaptability to diverse tropical forest ecosystems and specific altitudinal constraints. This species thrives across a variety of distinct habitats, including Campinarana, Cerrado (latu sensu), Floresta de Igapó, Floresta de Terra Firmre, and Floresta de Várzea, allowing it to occupy niches ranging from seasonally flooded areas to more stable upland environments. In terms of topographical distribution, the plant is found within a defined elevational range, typically occurring at altitudes starting from a minimum of 75 m AMSL up to a maximum of 550 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

550 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

75 m AMSL

Habitat :

Campinarana, Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta de Igapó, Floresta de Terra Firme, Floresta de Várzea

Life history

The life history of Abuta grandifolia is characterized by its status as a perennial species, meaning it maintains its vegetative structures and continues its biological functions over multiple years rather than completing its cycle in a single season. As a long-lived woody climber, it establishes itself within its tropical habitat and undergoes continuous growth cycles, often characterized by a slow but steady development of its climbing stems and large, expansive foliage. Its perennial nature allows it to persist through varying environmental conditions, establishing a stable presence in the forest ecosystem where it can reproduce through successive flowering and fruiting periods over many years.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

Morphologically, Abuta grandifolia is characterized as a woody tree that exhibits a liana-like climbing habit. It functions as an obligatory climber, utilizing other structures for support to reach significant heights, with an average height of approximately 5 m and a maximum potential height of up to 8 m. The plant is strictly terrestrial in its habitat, neither aquatic nor epiphytic, and maintains an independent lifestyle as it does not function as a parasite.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

8 m

Plant height mean:

5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Abuta grandifolia is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which is typical for many woody tropical plants, involving the direct fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle. In terms of nutrient cycling and metabolic processes, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrates and ammonium from the soil rather than establishing a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Abuta grandifolia is characterized by specific morphological and physiological parameters regarding its seed production and pollination mechanisms. In terms of pollination biology, the plant exhibits a lack of self-fertilization, meaning that the process of self-fertilization is absent, necessitating cross-pollination for successful sexual reproduction. The resulting seeds are highly uniform in their physical dimensions and weight. The seed mass is consistent, with both a minimum and maximum value of 1.15 g, resulting in a mean seed mass of 1.15 g. Similarly, the seed volume shows no variance, with a minimum, maximum, and mean volume all recorded at 1300 mm³.

Seed mass mean:

1.15 g

Seed volume max:

1300 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Abuta grandifolia has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include stem.

Stem

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Abuta grandifolia has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Compound 3, Krukovine, Limacine.

Compound 3

1. Planta medica

Krukovine

1. Planta medica

Limacine

1. Planta medica

Conditions

Abuta grandifolia has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Plasmodium falciparum, infections.

Plasmodium falciparum

1. Planta medica
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Infections

1. Revista Argentina de microbiologia

Preparations

Abuta grandifolia has 4 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Decoctions, Ethanol extracts of stem barks, alkaloid crude extract, dichloromethane extracts.

Decoctions

1. Revista Argentina de microbiologia

Ethanol extracts of stem barks

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Alkaloid crude extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Dichloromethane extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology