Cissampelos glaberrima

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cissampelos galapagensis
• Cissampelos glaberrima var. orbicularis
• Cissampelos errabunda
• Cissampelos clematidea
• Cissampelos parmata
• Cissampelos parriera

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

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

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad presence across several regions of the South American continent. In the northern part of the continent, its range extends through Venezuela. Moving toward the western side, the species is widely distributed across Colombia and Ecuador. It can also be found further south within the territory of Bolivia. Additionally, its unique geographical footprint includes the remote Galápagos Islands.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cissampelos glaberrima is characterized by its preference for low-altitude environments, occupying an elevational range that extends from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum of 300 m AMSL. Within these lowlands, the species is specifically adapted to thrive in the habitat of bosque bajo, utilizing the sheltered and shaded conditions provided by low-lying scrublands or undergrowth to facilitate its growth and development.

Elevational range max:

300 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Bosque bajo

Life history

The life history of Cissampelos glaberrima is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing the plant to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. As a perennial, it does not complete its entire biological cycle within a single year but instead maintains a long-term presence, often developing extensive climbing or creeping structures that facilitate its survival and expansion through various seasonal shifts. This perennial lifecycle enables the plant to establish a robust foundation, accumulating resources over time to support continuous growth, flowering, and seed production throughout its extended lifespan.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cissampelos glaberrima is characterized by a growth form that primarily functions as a shrub and a vine, exhibiting a non-woody structure. It is classified as an obligatory climber, utilizing its liana-like habit to ascend toward light sources. In terms of its ecological positioning and substrate interaction, the plant is terrestrial rather than aquatic or semiaquatic, and it exists as a terrestrial organism rather than an epiphyte. Furthermore, it maintains an independent life strategy, functioning as a non-parasitic species that does not rely on a host for nutrients.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cissampelos glaberrima is characterized by a metabolic framework governed by the C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and resource acquisition strategies. As a C3 plant, it utilizes the enzyme Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) to directly fix atmospheric carbon dioxide into three-carbon compounds during the Calvin cycle. This physiological mechanism implies that the plant relies on stomatal conductance to facilitate gas exchange, making its metabolic efficiency highly dependent on environmental variables such as light intensity, temperature, and water availability. Because it lacks the specialized carbon-concentrating mechanisms found in C4 or CAM species, its photosynthetic rate is closely tied to the maintenance of internal CO2 concentrations and the management of photorespiration, particularly in varying climatic conditions.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Cissampelos glaberrima has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Cissaglaberrimine, Trilobinine.

Cissaglaberrimine

1. Planta medica

Trilobinine

1. Planta medica