Pumpwood

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Pumpwood

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ambaiba cyrtostachya
• Ambaiba lyratiflora
• Ambaiba pachystachya
• Ambaiba tenoreana
• Cecropia adenopus
• Cecropia adenopus var. lata
• Cecropia adenopus var. lyratiloba
• Cecropia adenopus var. macrophylla
• Cecropia ambaci
• Cecropia adenopus var. oblonga
• Cecropia adenopus var. vulgaris
• Cecropia glauca
• Cecropia cyrtostachya
• Cecropia cinerea
• Cecropia carbonaria
• Cecropia catarinensis
• Cecropia lyratiloba
• Cecropia lyratiloba var. nana
• Ambaiba carbonaria
• Ambaiba cinerea
• Ambaiba adenopus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, placing it within the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified under the order Rosales and the family Urticaceae. Within this botanical hierarchy, it is identified by the genus Cecropia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide and diverse geographical distribution across several distinct regions of the world. Within the Malesia zone, it can be found inhabiting the areas of Jawa and Malaya. Its presence extends into the South-Central Pacific, specifically within the Cook Islands. In South America, the species is established in Brazil, appearing in both the West-Central and Northeast regions. Consequently, this species maintains a broad ecological footprint spanning tropical islands and vast continental territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cecropia pachystachya is characterized by its adaptability across diverse topographical gradients and specific environmental niches. This species inhabits an elevational range starting from sea level (0 m AMSL) and extending up to a maximum altitude of 1200 m AMSL. Within these altitudinal limits, it is notably found in the Cerrado habitat, where it plays a functional role in the local ecosystem.

Elevational range max:

1200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Cerrado

Life history

The life history of Cecropia pachystachya is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its ecosystem over multiple years. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its buds well above the ground, typically manifesting as a tree-like structure that can reach significant heights. This plant exhibits an evergreen deciduousness pattern, retaining its foliage throughout much of its growth cycle to support continuous metabolic processes. Its biological strategy as a phanerophyte ensures its survival through various environmental conditions, establishing a stable presence within its tropical habitat.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cecropia pachystachya is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, which functions as a self-supporting structure rather than a climber or liana. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit epiphytic or aquatic habits, nor does it act as a parasite, maintaining an independent life cycle. The plant reaches significant dimensions, with an average height of approximately 6 meters, though it can attain a maximum height of up to 12 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

12 m

Plant height mean:

6 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cecropia pachystaicha is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common trait among many tropical woody species. Its leaf architecture and resource allocation strategies are reflected in a mean leaf size of 478.089 cm² and a Specific Leaf Area (SLA) that ranges from a minimum of 111 cm²/g to a mean of 175.021 cm²/g, although the provided maximum value is recorded at 111 cm²/g. The leaf dry matter content (LDMC) remains consistent across its measured range, with a mean, minimum, and maximum value of 292 mg/g, indicating a stable concentration of dry mass within the leaf tissue. Regarding structural density, the plant exhibits a mean stem specific density (SSD) of 460 mg/cm³. Furthermore, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying on other mechanisms for nutrient acquisition.

Leaf dry matter content (LDMC) mean:

292 mg/g

Leaf size mean:

478.089 cm²

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

175.021 cm²/g

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) min:

111 cm²/g

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

460 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cecropia pachystachya is characterized by specific morphological and biological traits of its seeds and fruits. The plant produces fleshy fruits, which suggests a dispersal mechanism likely involving biotic agents. The seeds themselves are quite small and uniform in their dimensions, exhibiting a consistent seed length with a mean, minimum, and maximum value of 1.688 mm. The seed mass is also highly stable, recorded at a constant 0.00085 g for both minimum and maximum values. In terms of volume, the seeds show a degree of variation, ranging from a minimum of 0.00052 mm³ to a maximum of 4.2 mm³, with an overall mean seed volume of approximately 2.10557 mm³. Furthermore, the reproductive process is governed by a lack of self-fertilization, as the trait for self-fertilization is documented as absent, indicating that the species relies on cross-pollination to ensure genetic diversity.

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Seed length mean:

1.688 mm

Seed mass mean:

0.00085 g

Seed volume max:

4.2 mm³

Seed volume mean:

2.10557 mm³

Seed volume min:

0.00052 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cecropia pachystachya has 1 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Parasite immunology
3. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Chemicals

Cecropia pachystachya has 9 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Isoorientin, Orientin, CHLOROGENIC ACID, Isovitexin, Flavonoids.

Isoorientin

1. Clinical and experimental pharmacology & physiology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Orientin

1. Clinical and experimental pharmacology & physiology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Isovitexin

1. Clinical and experimental pharmacology & physiology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Proanthocyanidins

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Procyanidins

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Tannin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

VITEXINA

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Activities

Cecropia pachystachya has 10 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiasthmatic, Antigenotoxic, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Diuretic.

Antiasthmatic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antigenotoxic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antimicrobial

1. Parasite immunology

Antioxidant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Diuretic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Expectorant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Genotoxic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hypoglycemic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Mutagenic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Neuroprotective

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Cecropia pachystachya has 18 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include asthma, inflammation, anxiety, bronchitis, cardiovascular diseases.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations