Annona cacans

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Annona cacans subsp. glabriuscula
• Xylopia cacanes
• Annona cacans var. glabriuscula
• Annona amambayensis

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Magnoliales. Finally, it falls under the family Annonaceaae and is categorized within the genus Annona.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical presence across several key regions of South America. In Brazil, its distribution is widespread, spanning the West-Central, Northeast, and Southeast regions. It is also found throughout the southern portions of Brazil. Beyond Brazilian borders, the species extends its reach into the southern reaches of the continent. Specifically, it is documented to grow within the country of Paraguay.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Annona cacans is characterized by its presence within the Cerrado biome, where it thrives in the specific environmental conditions of this tropical savanna ecosystem. This species occupies a distinct altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 500 m AMSL. Its distribution within these low-to-mid elevation landscapes suggests an adaptation to the seasonal moisture patterns and soil compositions typical of the Cerrado habitat.

Elevational range max:

500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Cerrado

Life history

The life history of Annona cacans is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to establish long-term presence within its ecological niche. Throughout its developmental stages, the species exhibits a deciduous growth habit, meaning it undergoes a seasonal shedding of its foliage. This cyclical pattern of leaf loss and regrowth is a key component of its survival strategy, influencing its metabolic activities and resource management over its extended lifespan.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Annona cacans is characterized by a robust, woody growth form, specifically developing into a tree. As a terrestrial species, it grows independently of other plants and does not exhibit parasitic or epiphytic behavior. The plant reaches significant dimensions, with an average height of approximately 15 meters, though it is capable of reaching a maximum height of up to 30 meters. Although it possesses a self-supporting structural habit rather than functioning as a liana, vine, or climber, its substantial woody framework allows it to maintain its upright stature within its natural habitat.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

30 m

Plant height mean:

15 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Annona cacans is characterized by its specific metabolic and nutrient acquisition strategies. The plant utilizes a C3 photosynthetic pathway, meaning it fixes carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle without the specialized carbon-concentrating mechanisms found in C4 or CAM species. Furthermore, Annona cacans does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on the uptake of available nitrogenous compounds from the soil rather than forming symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Annona cacans is primarily driven by the development of its seeds, which serve as the fundamental units for propagating the species. Based on morphological data, the seeds exhibit a highly consistent size profile, characterized by a uniform seed length. The recorded mean seed length is 11.351 mm, a value that is mirrored by both the minimum and maximum measurements recorded, indicating a lack of variance in this specific metric. This precision in seed dimensions, with a fixed length of 11.351 mm, suggests a stabilized reproductive output essential for the plant's dispersal and subsequent germination processes.

Seed length mean:

11.351 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Annona cacans has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticholinesterase.

Anticholinesterase

1. Brazilian journal of medical and biological research = Revista brasileira de pesquisas medicas e biologicas