Chupón

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Hardy Pineapple

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Billbergia sphacelata
• Bromelia discolor
• Bromelia clandestina
• Bromelia sphacelata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Poales, it is classified under the family Bromeliaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation is placed within the genus Greigia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily found within the specific regions of Southern South America. Its native range is concentrated within the territory of Chile. Specifically, the species can be identified throughout the Central Chile area. Furthermore, its geographical presence extends into the South Chile region. This localized distribution highlights the plant's unique ecological niche within the southern part of the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Greigia sphaceata is characterized by its presence within specific altitudinal gradients, occupying a niche that spans from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 500 m AMSL. This elevational range of 0 to 500 m AMSL suggests that the species is adapted to lowland to sub-montane environments, where it interacts with the unique microclimates and soil compositions found within these lower tropical or subtropical zones. Its distribution within this specific vertical belt dictates its physiological adaptations to local humidity levels, light availability, and temperature fluctuations typical of these coastal or low-lying terrestrial habitats.

Elevational range max:

500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Greigia sphaceata is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons within its natural habitat. Structurally, it functions as a hemicryptophyte, a life form where the perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by residual leaf bases or organic matter during unfavorable conditions. This specific growth habit facilitates its survival and establishment in its ecological niche, maintaining its presence over long periods through these protected bud structures.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Greigia sphaceata is characterized by a growth form primarily classified as a herb, manifesting as a non-woody plant that lacks woody tissue. It functions as an independent organism, showing no parasitic tendencies, and maintains a terrestrial lifestyle rather than being aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic. In terms of its structural habit, the plant is self-supporting, meaning it does not function as an obligatory or facultative climber, liana, or vine, but instead maintains its own upright or spreading stature within its terrestrial habitat.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

Reproduction in Greigia sphaceata is characterized by the production of seeds that exhibit highly consistent physical properties. Based on quantitative data, the seed mass is uniform across the sampled population, with a mean seed mass of 0.01843 g. This measurement is absolute, as both the maximum and minimum recorded seed masses are identical at 0.01843 g, indicating a lack of significant variance in the weight of individual seeds during the reproductive cycle.

Seed mass mean:

0.01843 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Greigia sphacelata has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 1-O-trans-p-Coumaroylglycerol, Arborinol, Arborinone, Isoarborinol.

1-O-trans-p-Coumaroylglycerol

1. Journal of natural products

Arborinol

1. Journal of natural products

Arborinone

1. Journal of natural products

Isoarborinol

1. Journal of natural products