Cordiera sessilis

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Alibertia sessilis

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 and order Gentianales, it is a member of the Rubiaceae family. Specifically, it is categorized under the genus Cordiera, with its species name being sessilis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide presence across several distinct regions within South America. In the western part of the continent, it can be found specifically within Bolivia. Its distribution extends extensively throughout Brazil, covering a vast array of diverse territories. It is documented to grow in the North, Northeast, and Southeast regions of the Brazilian landscape. Additionally, the species is established within the West-Central area of Brazil.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cordiera sessilis is characterized by its preference for specific lowland environments, primarily thriving within the habitats of bosque bajo (low forest) and cerrado. This species is adapted to low-altitude ecosystems, maintaining an elevational range that begins at 0 m AMSL and extends to a maximum of 500 m AMSL. Its distribution is closely tied to these tropical or subtropical transitional landscapes, where it occupies niches defined by the structural characteristics of scrublands and open woody formations.

Elevational range max:

500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Bosque bajo, cerrado

Life history

The life history of Cordiera sessilis is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth and survival strategies, it exhibits a dual classification of life forms, manifesting as both a phanerophyte and a nanophanerophyte. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its buds well above the ground level, typically through woody stems, while its nanophanerophytic traits indicate that some of its growth remains relatively low to the substrate, balancing height and stability within its ecological niche.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cordiera sessilis is characterized by its woody structure, manifesting in growth forms that range from a shrub to a tree. This plant exhibits a versatile stature, with a mean height of approximately 3 m, though it can reach a maximum height of up to 9 m. It is a terrestrial species, functioning as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies. In terms of its structural habit, it is categorized as self-supporting, lacking the climbing mechanisms of lianas or vines.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

9 m

Plant height mean:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cordiera sessilis is characterized by its specific metabolic and nutritional processes, most notably its reliance on the C3 photosynthetic pathway for carbon fixation. This pathway involves the initial fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide through the enzyme RuBisCO, leading to the formation of a three-carbon compound, which is typical of most woody plant species in this genus. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, such as rhizobia, required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a bioavailable form; instead, it depends on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil to satisfy its nitrogen requirements for protein synthesis and enzymatic functions.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cordiera sessilis is characterized by the production of fruits that exhibit a fleshy texture, serving as a medium for seed dispersal. Within these fruits, the seeds possess a highly consistent morphology, with a recorded seed volume that remains uniform across observations. Specifically, the seed volume maintains a constant value with a minimum, maximum, and mean of 85 mm³. This precise volumetric measurement indicates a standardized reproductive output for the species, where the fleshy nature of the fruit provides the necessary biological structure to house these consistently sized seeds.

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Seed volume max:

85 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cordiera sessilis has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include stem.

Stem

1. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias

Chemicals

Cordiera sessilis has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoid.

Flavonoid

1. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias

Activities

Cordiera sessilis has 3 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiglycation, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.

Antiglycation

1. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias

Antimicrobial

1. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias

Antioxidant

1. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias

Conditions

Cordiera sessilis has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include type 2 Diabetes mellitus.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus

1. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias

Preparations

Cordiera sessilis has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanolic extract of the stem bark.

Ethanolic extract of the stem bark

1. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias