Xeraea arborescens

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Xeraea arborescens
• Bragantia vandellii
• Gomphrena insignis
• Gomphrena caleyi
• Gomphrena officinalis

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, it is situated in the order Caryophyllales and the family Amaranthaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Gomphrena.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical presence across several distinct regions of South America. Within Brazil, its distribution spans the West-Central, Northeast, and Southeast territories. Moving beyond Brazilian borders, it is also found in the southern reaches of the continent. Specifically, its range extends into the country of Paraguay. Consequently, the species occupies a diverse range of habitats across these interconnected southern regions.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Gomphrena arborescens is characterized by its presence in specific Brazilian biomes, primarily thriving within the Campo Rupestre and the Cerrado (latu sensu) ecosystems. This plant occupies a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 600 m AMSL. Its distribution within these habitats suggests an adaptation to the unique soil compositions and seasonal moisture patterns typical of these scrublands and rocky outcrop environments.

Elevational range max:

600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Campo Rupestre, Cerrado (lato sensu)

Life history

The life history of Gomphrena arborescens is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, meaning it persists through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its life cycle in a single year. This long-lived lifecycle allows the species to establish a robust presence within its ecological niche, often undergoing periods of vegetative growth and seasonal flowering. Depending on environmental stability and resource availability, its developmental pattern may exhibit variability, but it fundamentally functions as a perennial organism that can survive through successive years.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Gomphrena arborescens is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, exhibiting a structural habit that is entirely self-supporting rather than acting as a climber, liana, or vine. This plant is strictly terrestrial in its ecological positioning, lacking any epiphytic tendencies such as being a holoepiphyte or hemiepiphyte, and it functions as an independent organism with no parasitic requirements. Its physical constitution is defined by a non-woody texture, maintaining a herbaceous stature that distinguishes it from shrubs or trees within its habitat.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Gomphrena arborescens has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimalarial.

Antimalarial

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Conditions

Gomphrena arborescens has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include malaria.

Malaria

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine