Byrsonima coccolobifolia

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Malpighia pruinosa
• Byrsonima monticola
• Byrsonima sessilifolia
• Byrsonima coccolobifolia var. latifolia
• Byrsonima coccolobifolia var. obtusifolia
• Byrsonima coccolobifolia f. parvifolia
• Byrsonima berteroana
• Malpighia coccolobifolia

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Malpighiales and the family Malpighiaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Byrsonima.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse range of locations across the tropical regions of the Americas. Within the Caribbean, its presence is specifically noted in Cuba. Its distribution extends significantly into Northern South America, where it can be found in Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela. Furthermore, the species reaches into Western South America, specifically inhabiting Bolivia. Together, these regions define the primary geographical range for Byrsonima coccolobifolia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Byrsonima coccolobifolia is characterized by its presence in diverse and specialized ecosystems, including Campinarana, Campo Rupestre, Floresta Ciliar or Galeria, Floresta de Igapó, and the Amazonian Savanna. This plant occupies a specific altitudinal niche, thriving within an elevational range that begins at 300 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 1000 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

300 m AMSL

Habitat :

Campinarana, Campo Rupestre, Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta de Igapó, Savana Amazônica

Life history

The life history of Byrsonima coccolobiifolia is characterized by its nature as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish long-term presence within its habitat. Its developmental cycle is marked by a deciduous growth habit, meaning it undergoes a seasonal period of leaf shedding, typically in response to environmental stressors or changes in photoperiod, before regenerating new foliage. This combination of a long-lived lifecycle and seasonal deciduousness dictates its rhythmic patterns of resource allocation, dormancy, and active vegetative growth.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Byrsonima coccolobiifolia is characterized by a woody structure that manifests in both tree and shrub growth forms. It is a terrestrial plant that grows independently, lacking any parasitic tendencies. As a self-supporting organism, it does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, and it is strictly non-epiphytic. In terms of physical stature, the plant reaches a maximum height of 6 m, with an average plant height of approximately 5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

6 m

Plant height mean:

5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Byrsonima coccolobifolia is characterized by a metabolic framework utilizing the C3 photosynthetic pathway, which involves the direct fixation of carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle without the specialized carbon-concentrating mechanisms found in C4 or CAM plants. In terms of nutrient cycling and symbiotic relationships, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized root nodules containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms for the plant.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Byrsonima coccolobiifolia is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, indicating that its reproductive success relies heavily on living organisms rather than abiotic factors. This biological mechanism is primarily facilitated through insect pollination, where various insect species serve as the essential vectors for pollen transfer. Within this framework, the plant demonstrates a specific affinity for bees, which play a critical role in the pollination process, ensuring the movement of pollen between flowers to facilitate fertilization.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Byrsonima coccolobifolia has 3 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Mutagenic.

Antimicrobial

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Antioxidant

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Mutagenic

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine