Citharexylum flexuosum

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Rauvolfia flexuosa
• Citharexylum kobuskianum
• Rauvolfia spinosa
• Rauvolfia macrophylla
• Citharexylum retusum

Sources: Wikidata

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 Lamiales and the family Verbenaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is established within the genus Citharexylum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known scientifically as Citharexylum flexuosum, exhibits a highly localized geographical range. Its documented presence is specifically concentrated within the western regions of South America. Within this continental area, the species is found native to the country of Peru. This limited distribution suggests that the plant thrives under the specific environmental conditions unique to this part of the world. Consequently, its natural habitat is strictly defined by this particular South American territory.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Citharexylum flexuosum is characterized by its perennial growth habit, primarily functioning as a phanerophyte, where its reproductive buds are borne on elevated woody stems well above the ground level. Depending on the environmental conditions and the specific developmental stage or ecological niche it occupies, its life form may also exhibit characteristics consistent with a nanophanerophyte, maintaining a relatively low stature compared to larger woody species. As a perennial woody plant, it undergoes continuous cycles of vegetative growth and seasonal flowering, utilizing its robust stem structure to ensure survival through varying environmental pressures.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Citharexylum flexuosum is characterized by its woody growth form, functioning as a shrub or small tree that can reach a maximum height of 5 meters. As an independent species, it does not exhibit parasitic behavior, and it maintains a terrestrial habit rather than being aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic. While it possesses a self-supporting structure, it does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, instead relying on its own woody stems for stability.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Citharexylum flexuosum is characterized by its primary metabolic processes, most notably its photosynthetic pathway which follows the C3 mechanism. Through this C3 pathway, the plant utilizes the enzyme RuBisCO to facilitate the initial fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide into a three-carbon compound during the Calvin cycle. This metabolic strategy dictates its carbon assimilation efficiency and its reliance on specific environmental conditions, such as moisture availability and light intensity, to regulate transpiration and gas exchange. The plant's physiological performance is fundamentally tied to this C3 carbon fixation process, which governs its energy production, growth rates, and overall resource allocation within its ecosystem.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Citharexylum flexuosum is characterized by the production of seeds that exhibit a high degree of uniformity in their physical dimensions. Based on morphological data, the seeds produced by this species possess a highly consistent size profile, with a recorded seed volume that remains constant across observations. Specifically, the seed volume is measured at a mean of 32 mm³, a value that is mirrored by both the minimum and maximum recorded volumes of 32 mm³. This lack of variance in seed volume suggests a highly stabilized reproductive output, ensuring that each seed maintains a standardized volumetric capacity of 32 mm³ during its developmental stage.

Seed volume max:

32 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Citharexylum flexuosum has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 2-Phenylethyl benzoate, Cuparene, Hexahydrofarnesylacetone, NONADECANE.

2-Phenylethyl benzoate

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Cuparene

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Hexahydrofarnesylacetone

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

NONADECANE

1. Chemistry & biodiversity