Melicoccus bijugatusss

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Melicoccus bijugatusss
• Ginep Tree
• Kenip Tree
• Kinnup Tree
• Spanish-lime
• honeyberry
• Guinep

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Stadtmannia bijugata
• Melicoccus bijugatus f. alatus
• Melicoccus carpoodea

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 Sapindales, it is classified under the family Sapindaceae. Specifically, Melicoccus bijugatus is a member of the genus Melicoccus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution that spans across multiple oceanic and continental regions. In the South-Central Pacific, it can be found growing within the Cook Islands, the Society Islands, and the Tuamotu archipelago. Moving across the globe to the Americas, its range extends into the tropical landscapes of Central America, specifically in Costa Rica. Additionally, the species has established a presence in the Southeastern United States, particularly within the state of Florida. Consequently, these diverse locations highlight the wide environmental adaptability of the species.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Melicoccus bijugatus is characterized by its presence in Floresta de Terra Firme habitats, where it thrives in stable, non-flooded forest environments. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, occupying a diverse vertical range that spans from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 1500 m AMSL. This wide elevational gradient allows the plant to adapt to varying environmental conditions and climatic nuances found across different topographical levels within its native forest ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Floresta de Terra Firme

Life history

The life history of Melicoccus bijugatus is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, ensuring its long-term presence within its natural ecosystem. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its buds well above the ground level, typically growing as a large woody tree or shrub. This phanerophyte life form is consistent across its development, supporting a robust structural framework. Furthermore, the species exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its foliage throughout the year rather than shedding it seasonally, providing a continuous photosynthetic capacity.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Melicoccus bijugatus is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, which functions as a self-supporting structure rather than a climber or liana. It is a terrestrial species that grows independently, showing no parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. The plant typically reaches an average height of 18 meters, though it can attain a maximum height of up to 20 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Plant height mean:

18 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Melicoccus bijugatus is characterized by a standard C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing the Calvin cycle to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide during the light-independent reactions. This metabolic strategy indicates that the plant's primary carbon fixation occurs through the enzyme RuBisCO within the mesophyll cells, a common trait among many tropical woody species. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, and instead relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil substrate to satisfy its nutritional requirements.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Melicoccus bijugatus is primarily driven by biotic mechanisms, characterized by a sophisticated pollination syndrome that relies on living organisms rather than abiotic factors. The flowering process is facilitated through biotic pollination, specifically involving a diverse array of animal vectors. Among these, insects play a crucial role in the transfer of pollen, with bees serving as a highly significant specific pollinator within the reproductive cycle. This reliance on insect-mediated pollination ensures the genetic exchange necessary for the development of its characteristic fruit, marking a clear evolutionary strategy centered on animal-assisted fertilization.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Melicoccus bijugatus 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 fruit.

Fruit

1. Fitoterapia

Chemicals

Melicoccus bijugatus has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoid, Sugars, fructose, glucose, sucrose.

Flavonoid

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Sugars

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

fructose

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

glucose

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

sucrose

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

vitamin C

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Melicoccus bijugatus has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial.

Antimicrobial

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)