Fridericia elegans

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Bignonia elegans
• Bignonia exserta
• Arrabidaea elegans
• Adenocalymma elegans
• Pseudocalymma elegans

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Fridericia elegans, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae within the order Lamiales. Finally, it is a member of the family Bignoniaceae and falls under the genus Fridericia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known scientifically as Fredericia elegans, exhibits a specific geographical range within South America. Its distribution is primarily concentrated in the country of Brazil. Within this nation, the species is specifically found in the Southeast region. This localized occurrence suggests that the environmental conditions of this particular area are ideal for its growth. Consequently, the plant's natural habitat is closely tied to the ecological characteristics of the Brazilian Southeast.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Fridericia elegans is fundamentally defined by its presence within diverse forest ecosystems, specifically thriving in both Seasonal Deciduous Forests (Floresta Estacional Decidual) and Ombrophilous Forests (Floresta Ombrófila), which includes tropical rainforest environments. In the seasonal deciduous habitats, the species must adapt to fluctuations in water availability and periodic leaf shedding, whereas in the ombrophilous environments, it occupies niches characterized by high humidity and consistent rainfall. These varied forest types provide the necessary structural complexity and microclimatic conditions required for its growth, ranging from shaded understory layers to more open canopy gaps, allowing the plant to integrate into different successional stages of these complex forest biomes.

Habitat :

Floresta Estacional Decidual, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Morphology

The morphology of Fridericia elegans is characterized by its robust, woody structure, which provides the necessary strength for its growth habit. This plant functions as a liana, exhibiting an obligatory climbing mechanism to ascend toward light sources within its habitat. While it possesses a woody stem, its ecological positioning is primarily terrestrial, meaning it grows in soil rather than being an aquatic, semiaquatic, or strictly epiphytic organism. It is an independent species, meaning it does not function as a parasite on host plants, and despite its climbing nature, it maintains its status as a terrestrial plant rather than acting as a holoepiphyte or hemiepiphyte.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Fridericia elegans 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 leaf.

Leaf

1. Phytochemistry

Chemicals

Fridericia elegans has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Eleganoside A, Eleganoside B, Eleganoside C.

Eleganoside A

1. Phytochemistry

Eleganoside B

1. Phytochemistry

Eleganoside C

1. Phytochemistry

Preparations

Fridericia elegans has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include methanol-soluble part of Pseudocalymma elegans (leaves).

Methanol-soluble part of pseudocalymma elegans (leaves)

1. Phytochemistry