Duguetia echinophora

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Under the subclass Magnoliidae and order Magnoliales, it is classified within the family Annonaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Duguetia as the species Duguetia echinophora.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical range across several key regions of Brazil. Specifically, it can be found throughout the Brazil North territory. Its distribution also extends significantly into the Brazil Northeast region. Furthermore, the species is present within the Brazil West-Central area. These diverse locations highlight the broad ecological adaptability of Duguetia echinophora.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Duguetia echinophora is fundamentally defined by its occurrence within the Floresta de Terra Firme, where it thrives in non-flooded, stable forest environments. In these terrestrial ecosystems, the species occupies specific niches within the forest structure, relying on the nutrient-rich, well-drained soils characteristic of upland tropical forests. Its presence in these habitats suggests a dependence on the complex microclimates and consistent moisture levels provided by the dense canopy cover, which protects the plant from extreme solar radiation and temperature fluctuations. Within the Floresta de Terra Firme, Duguetia echinophora participates in the intricate biological interactions of the forest, contributing to the local biodiversity through its role in the successional dynamics and nutrient cycling of the terrestrial forest floor.

Habitat :

Floresta de Terra Firme

Morphology

The morphology of Duguetia echinophora is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, reaching a maximum plant height of approximately 30 meters. It functions as an independent organism, maintaining a terrestrial life habit rather than being aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic. As a self-supporting structure, it does not exhibit climbing behaviors such as liana or vine growth, nor does it act as an obligatory or facultative climber. Furthermore, it is not a parasite, growing independently within its ecosystem.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

30 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Duguetia echinophora is primarily characterized by its metabolic processes, specifically following a C3 photosynthetic pathway. As a C3 plant, it utilizes the Calvin cycle to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide directly through the enzyme Rubisco, which is the standard mechanism for most woody tropical species. This pathway involves the initial fixation of CO2 into a three-carbon molecule, oxaloacetate, which is then converted into 3-phosphoglycerate. This metabolic framework dictates the plant's gas exchange patterns and water-use efficiency, as the reliance on stomatal opening for CO2 uptake makes its physiological performance highly sensitive to transpiration rates and environmental humidity. Consequently, its energy production and biomass accumulation are intrinsically linked to the efficiency of this C3 carbon fixation process under its specific ecological conditions.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Duguetia echinophora has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include TERPINOLENE.

TERPINOLENE

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Duguetia echinophora has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.

Antioxidant

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Duguetia echinophora has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include essential oils.

Essential oils

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)