Cecropia obtusa

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ambaiba obtusa
• Coilotapalus obtusa
• Cecropia lisboana

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Cecropia obtusa, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Rosales. It is a member of the family Urticaceae and is specifically placed within the genus Cecropia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across the tropical regions of northern South America. It can be found growing within the territories of French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname. Furthermore, its presence extends significantly into the Brazilian landscape. Specifically, it inhabits the northern regions of Brazil as well as the northeastern parts of the country. This range highlights the plant's preference for the humid environments found in these particular northern latitudes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cecropia obtusa is intrinsically linked to the dynamics of the Floresta de Terra Firme, where it functions as a vital pioneer species within these non-flooded upland forest ecosystems. Occupying early successional stages, the plant thrives in high-light environments, often colonizing canopy gaps created by treefalls or disturbances that allow sunlight to reach the forest floor. In these stable, well-drained terrestrial habitats, Cecropia obtusa plays a crucial role in nutrient cycling and soil stabilization, rapidly establishing itself to facilitate the eventual return of late-successional shade-tolerant species. Its growth strategy is optimized for these specific forest conditions, leveraging high metabolic rates to dominate open spaces before the canopy closes once more.

Habitat :

Floresta de Terra Firme

Life history

The life history of Cecropia obtusa is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to establish long-term presence within its tropical ecosystem. Throughout its developmental stages, the plant maintains an evergreen habit, retaining its foliage continuously rather than shedding it seasonally. This combination of a perennial lifecycle and evergreen deciduousness enables the plant to engage in sustained photosynthetic activity, supporting its growth and reproductive efforts across multiple years.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cecropia obtusa is characterized by its stature as a woody tree, typically reaching a mean height of 10 m, though it can attain a maximum height of up to 25 m. As a terrestrial species, it grows in non-aquatic environments and functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite. The plant is self-supporting in its growth habit, neither acting as a climber nor as an epiphyte, maintaining a robust, upright structure.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

25 m

Plant height mean:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cecropia obtusa is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation process and metabolic efficiency under varying environmental conditions. As a C3 plant, it utilizes the enzyme Rubisco to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide directly into the Calvin cycle, typically favoring environments with moderate temperatures and sufficient moisture. Furthermore, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria necessary to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form, and instead relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil to meet its nutritional requirements for growth and development.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cecropia obtusa is characterized by a complex reproductive strategy where self-fertilization is entirely absent, necessitating cross-pollination to ensure genetic diversity. The plant produces fleshy fruits that fall under a specialized category of fruit types, serving as the vessel for its progeny. These fruits are notably small and consistent in dimension, maintaining a mean height of 0.08 cm, a mean width of 0.08 cm, and a mean length of 0.29 cm; the maximum dimensions recorded for height and width are both 0.08 cm, while the length reaches a maximum of 0.29 cm, showing very little variance in size. Within these fleshy structures, the seeds are extremely minute, with a mean seed mass of 0.000125 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.00011 g to a maximum of 0.00014 g. The seed volume is remarkably uniform, with a recorded mean, minimum, and maximum value of 1 mm³. To facilitate the spread of these tiny seeds, the species employs a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on animals to transport the reproductive units to new locations.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit height mean:

0.08 cm

Fruit length max:

0.29 cm

Fruit type :

other

Fruit width max:

0.08 cm

Seed mass max:

0.00014 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000125 g

Seed mass min:

0.00011 g

Seed volume max:

1 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Cecropia obtusa has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Ursolic acid.

Ursolic acid

1. Journal of mass spectrometry : JMS

Conditions

Cecropia obtusa has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include leishmaniasis.

Leishmaniasis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology