Lacistema pubescens

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lacistema ellipticum

Sources: Wikidata

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 further categorized under the order Malpighiales and the family Lacistemataceae. Its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Lacistema, of which Lacistema pubescens is a member.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range across several key regions of South America. In the northern part of the continent, it can be found growing within French Guiana. Its presence is also significant throughout Brazil, spanning multiple distinct territories. Specifically, it is distributed across the Northeast, Southeast, and North regions of the country. This wide distribution highlights the plant's ability to thrive in various Brazilian landscapes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Lacistema pubescens is characterized by its presence in highly specific and moisture-dependent environments, primarily inhabiting Ombrophilous Forests (Rainforests) and Restinga ecosystems. Within these habitats, the species thrives in areas defined by high humidity and significant rainfall, which are typical of tropical rainforest settings. Its occurrence in Restinga—a coastal ecosystem characterized by sandy soils and specialized vegetation—indicates an ability to adapt to the unique hydrological and nutrient conditions found in these transitional zones between forest and sea. The plant's distribution is closely tied to these high-moisture niches, where the interplay of shade, humidity, and soil composition within the rainforest canopy and the coastal scrub provides the necessary ecological stability for its growth and survival.

Habitat :

Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Restinga

Morphology

The morphology of Lacistema pubescens is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically categorized as a tree that can reach a maximum plant height of approximately 20 m. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic lifestyles, functioning as a terrestrial plant rather than a holoepiphyte, hemiepiphyte, or facultative epiphyte. The plant is independent in its nutritional requirements, meaning it is not an obligatory or facultative parasite. Furthermore, its structural development is that of a self-supporting organism, lacking the climbing mechanisms of a liana, vine, obligatory climber, or facultative climber.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Lacistema pubescens is characterized by its metabolic processes, most notably its use of the C3 photosynthetic pathway. In this pathway, the initial fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide is mediated by the enzyme Rubisco, resulting in the formation of a three-carbon compound, 3-phosphoglycerate. This biochemical mechanism governs the plant's carbon assimilation efficiency and its water-use strategy, influencing how the species manages gas exchange and energy production within its tissues. Through this C3 metabolism, the plant regulates its growth and development by converting light energy into chemical energy, maintaining the physiological balance necessary for its survival in its native ecological niches.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Lacistema pubescens has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antiproliferative.

Antibacterial

1. BioMed research international

Antiproliferative

1. BioMed research international

Medicinal Uses

Lacistema pubescens has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Jurkat cells.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations