Marcetia taxifolia

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Marcetia juniperina
• Marcetia taxifolia var. glandulosa
• Marcetia fastigiata f. imbricata
• Marcetia taxifolia var. pubescens
• Marcetia cordigera var. andicola
• Rhexia taxifolia
• Marcetia fastigiata
• Marcetia cordigera
• Marcetia denudata
• Marcetia fastigiata var. imbricata
• Marcetia gardneri
• Marcetia schenckii
• Marcetia tamariscina
• Marcetia hirsuta
• Marcetia taxifolia var. cinerea
• Marcetia andicola
• Marcetia cinerea
• Marcetia pubescens
• Marcetia tenuifolia
• Marcetia disticha
• Marcetia glandulosa
• Marcetia glazioviana
• Marcetia taxifolia var. decumbens
• Marcetia taxifolia var. glabrescens
• Rhexia juniperina

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Myrtales, it is specifically situated in the family Melastomataceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement within the genus Marcetia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse presence across several regions of the South American continent. In Northern South America, its range extends through the territories of Guyana and Venezuela. Moving toward the western portion of the continent, it can also be found within Colombia. Within Brazil, the species is widely distributed across the West-Central region. Furthermore, its habitat encompasses the Northeast part of Brazil as well.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Marcetia taxiifolia is characterized by its occurrence in highly specialized and diverse ecosystems, specifically within the Campo Rupestre, Cerrado (latu sensu), and Restinga formations. These habitats represent distinct environmental gradients, ranging from the nutrient-poor, rocky outcrops of the Campo Rupestre to the sandy, coastal environments of the Restinga. The species exhibits a significant vertical distribution, with an average elevational range centered around 2000 m AMSL, suggesting an ability to thrive in high-altitude montane environments where specific climatic and edaphic conditions are met.

Elevational range mean:

2000 m AMSL

Habitat :

Campo Rupestre, Cerrado (lato sensu), Restinga

Life history

The life history of Marcetia taxiifolia is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth and survival strategies, the plant exhibits distinct life forms, functioning as both a phanerophyte and a nanophanerophyte. This dual classification indicates that while it possesses the capacity to maintain its reproductive shoots above the ground level typical of phanerophytes, it also displays the compact growth characteristics of a nanophanerophyte, where the stems are kept very close to the substrate.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Marcetia taxiifolia is characterized by a woody structure, specifically manifesting as a subshrub or shrubby growth form. It is a terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor as an epiphyte, maintaining a self-supporting habit. Although its ecological niche can vary across aquatic, semiaquatic, and terrestrial habitats, its physical architecture remains that of a self-supporting, non-climbing woody plant, rather than a liana, vine, or obligatory climber.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Growth form :

subshrub

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Marcetia taxiifolia is characterized by the production of exceptionally minute seeds, reflecting a specialized reproductive strategy. Quantitative analysis of its seed morphology reveals a highly uniform seed mass across specimens, with a mean weight of 2e-05 g. This consistency is underscored by the fact that both the maximum and minimum recorded seed masses are identical at 2e-05 g, indicating a very narrow range of variation in reproductive output. Such microscopic seed dimensions suggest that the plant likely relies on efficient dispersal mechanisms to distribute its offspring within its habitat.

Seed mass mean:

2e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Marcetia taxifolia has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Myricetin 3-(6-rhamnosylgalactoside), myricetin, myricetin-rhamnoside.

Myricetin 3-(6-rhamnosylgalactoside)

1. AIDS research and therapy

myricetin

1. AIDS research and therapy

myricetin-rhamnoside

1. AIDS research and therapy

Conditions

Marcetia taxifolia has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Hepatitis B virus, Herpes Simplex Virus, Poliovirus.

Hepatitis b virus

1. EXCLI journal

Herpes simplex virus

1. EXCLI journal

Poliovirus

1. EXCLI journal

Preparations

Marcetia taxifolia has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include organic extracts by maceration of aerial parts.

Organic extracts by maceration of aerial parts

1. AIDS research and therapy