Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several regions of South America. In Western South America, its presence is specifically noted in Bolivia. Within Brazil, the species can be found throughout the West-Central region. The distribution extends into Southern South America, covering both the Northeast and Northwest areas of Argentina. Finally, the plant is also located within the borders of Paraguay.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Aspidosperma quebracho-branco is characterized by its presence within the Floresta Estacional Decidual, where it plays a functional role in the seasonal dynamics of the forest ecosystem. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, thriving across a diverse topographical gradient that begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends to elevations as high as 2000 m AMSL. This wide elevational range allows the plant to adapt to varying climatic conditions and soil compositions within its native range, spanning from lowland tropical environments to higher, more temperate montane zones.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Floresta Estacional Decidual

Life history

The life history of Aspidosperma quebracho-branco is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to maintain its presence within its ecosystem over many years. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated woody structures, a classification supported by its status as both a phanerophyte and a larger-scale phanerophyte within different botanical frameworks. Furthermore, the plant exhibits an evergreen deciduousness pattern, meaning it retains its foliage throughout the year rather than shedding it seasonally, contributing to its consistent physiological activity and long-term survival strategy.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Aspidosperma quebracho-branco is characterized by a large, woody tree growth form that reaches a mean height of 25 m, with some specimens attaining a maximum height of 20 m. As a strictly terrestrial organism, it does not exhibit aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic lifestyles, functioning as an independent species rather than a parasite or a hemi-epiphyte. The plant is entirely self-supporting, possessing a sturdy, woody structure that precludes it from being classified as a climber, liana, or vine.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Plant height mean:

25 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Aspidosperma quebracho-branco is characterized by a standard C3 photosynthetic pathway, which involves the direct fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle without the specialized CO2-concentrating mechanisms found in C4 or CAM species. This metabolic strategy indicates that the plant relies on the enzyme RuBisCO for initial carbon assimilation, typically making it more sensitive to photorespiration under high temperature and water-stress conditions. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria (such as Rhizobium) necessary to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, and instead must rely on the uptake of nitrates or ammonium present in the soil substrate to meet its nutritional requirements for protein and nucleic acid synthesis.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Aspidosperma quebracho-branco is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, indicating a reliance on living organisms to facilitate the transfer of pollen. Specifically, the plant utilizes insect-mediated pollination to ensure reproductive success. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces seeds that are remarkably uniform in size; the seed mass is consistently measured at a mean, minimum, and maximum value of 0.002 g, reflecting a highly standardized seed morphology within the species.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass mean:

0.002 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem.

Leaf

1. Natural product research

Stem

1. Natural product research

Chemicals

Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco has 19 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 1-Methylaspidospermidine, ASPIDOSPERMINE, Akuammicine, Akuammidine, Aspidospermatidine.

1-Methylaspidospermidine

1. Dr. Duke

ASPIDOSPERMINE

1. Dr. Duke

Akuammicine

1. Dr. Duke

Akuammidine

1. Dr. Duke

Aspidospermatidine

1. Dr. Duke

Aspidospermatine

1. Dr. Duke

Aspidospermidine

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke

Desacetylaspidospermine

1. Dr. Duke

Lupeol

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco has 126 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Adrenergic-Blocker, Adrenolytic, Analgesic, Androgenic, Anesthetic.

Adrenergic-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

Adrenolytic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic

1. Dr. Duke

Anesthetic

1. Dr. Duke

Angiogenic

1. Dr. Duke

Anorexic

1. Dr. Duke

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiEBV

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Preparations

Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco has 4 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include bark, dichloromethane (fCH2Cl2) extracts, ethyl acetate (fEtAc) extracts, methanol extracts (fMeOH).

Bark

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Dichloromethane (fch2cl2) extracts

1. Natural product research

Ethyl acetate (fetac) extracts

1. Natural product research

Methanol extracts (fmeoh)

1. Natural product research