Mama Cadela

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Mama Cadela

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Piratinera gaudichaudii
• Brosimum gaudichaudii f. longifolium
• Brosimum pusillum
• Piratinera glaucifolia
• Brosimum gaudichaudii f. macrophyllum
• Brosimum gaudichaudii f. parvifolium
• Brosimum glaucifolium

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, situated within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is classified under the order Rosales and the family Moraceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Brosimum, specifically as the species Brosimum gaudichaudii.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across various regions of the South American continent. Its presence is notably recorded in Bolivia, representing its reach into Western South America. Within Brazil, the species exhibits a broad range that includes the North and Northeast territories. Furthermore, it can be found spanning the West-Central and Southeast regions of the country. This extensive coverage demonstrates the plant's ability to thrive in diverse Brazilian environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Brosimum gaudichaudii is characterized by its presence in diverse landscapes, including anthropized areas (Área Antrópica), Cerrado (latu sensu), and the Amazonian Savanna (Savana Amazônica). This species thrives in low-lying terrains, occupying an elevational range that extends from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 200 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Cerrado (lato sensu), Savana Amazônica

Life history

The life history of Brosimum gaudichaudii is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the individual to persist in its ecosystem for many years. Throughout its developmental stages, the plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage as part of its seasonal biological rhythm.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Brosimum gaudichaudii is characterized by a woody growth form that manifests primarily as a tree, though it can also present in a shrub-like habit. This species is a self-supporting plant, lacking any climbing or vine-like tendencies, and it functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite. It is a strictly terrestrial species, showing no aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic characteristics. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant vertical growth, with an average height of approximately 6 meters, though it is capable of reaching a maximum height of up to 18 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

18 m

Plant height mean:

6 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Brosimum gaudicchauidii is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic strategy in many tropical woody species where carbon fixation occurs primarily through the enzyme RuBisCO during the Calvin cycle. Furthermore, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, relying instead on the uptake of nitrogenous compounds from the soil through its root system.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Brosimum gaudichaudii is characterized by the development of fruits that possess a fleshy texture, a trait that often facilitates dispersal through biotic agents. The seeds produced by this species are remarkably consistent in size, exhibiting a uniform seed volume with both a minimum and maximum value of 4800 mm³. Consequently, the mean seed volume is precisely 4800 mm³, indicating a highly standardized reproductive output in terms of seed dimensions within its ecological niche.

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Seed volume max:

4800 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Brosimum gaudichaudii 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, root.

Leaf

1. Frontiers in plant science

Root

1. Frontiers in plant science

Chemicals

Brosimum gaudichaudii has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Psoralen, Bergapten, Furanocoumarin, Furocoumarins.

Psoralen

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Bergapten

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Furanocoumarin

1. Frontiers in plant science

Furocoumarins

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Brosimum gaudichaudii has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include vitiligo.

Vitiligo

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology