Koster's-curse

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Koster's-curse
• curse
• Koster's curse

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Clidemia hirta
• Staphidium elegans
• Dancera hirta
• Melastoma elegans
• Melastoma hirtum
• Clidemia hirta var. tiliifolia
• Clidemia benthamiana
• Clidemia cognata
• Clidemia pauciflora
• Clidemia tiliifolia
• Leandra fimbriata
• Melastoma pauciflorum
• Maieta hirta
• Staphidium anceps
• Staphidium benthamianum
• Staphidium chrysanthum
• Staphidium pauciflorum
• Staphidium tiliifolium
• Staphidium hostmannii
• Staphidium pauciflorum var. calcaratum
• Staphidium pauciflorum var. stellulatum
• Clidemia elegans
• Clidemia hirta var. chrysantha

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 Myrtales, it is classified under the family Melastomataceae. Specifically, it is a member of the genus Miconia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across the diverse islands of the Western Indian Ocean. It can be found growing naturally within the archipelago of the Comoros. Additionally, its range extends to the island nations of Mauritius and the Seychelles. The species is also established in the unique ecosystems of Madagascar. Finally, its geographical presence includes the island of Réunion.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Miconia crenata is characterized by a broad environmental adaptability, allowing it to inhabit a diverse array of ecosystems ranging from the Caatinga (strictu sensu) and Amazonian Savanna to more humid environments such as Igapó forests, Ombrophilous (rainforest) forests, and Terra Firme forests, as well as anthropogenic areas. This species exhibits a significant vertical distribution across varying altitudes, occupying a wide elevational range that begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends up to a maximum elevation of 2300 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2300 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Floresta de Igapó, Floresta de Terra Firme, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Savana Amazônica

Life history

The life history of Miconia crenata is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. As a long-lived plant, it undergoes a continuous cycle of vegetative growth and reproductive phases rather than completing its life cycle within a single year. Its development involves the establishment of a robust root system and woody structure that supports its longevity, enabling it to withstand seasonal fluctuations and maintain its presence in the ecosystem over an extended period.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

Morphologically, Miconia crenata is characterized as a woody shrub that typically reaches an average height of approximately 1.2 m. It functions as a self-supporting plant, possessing neither climbing nor parasitic tendencies, as it grows as an independent organism. The species is strictly terrestrial in its ecological habit, meaning it does not exhibit epiphytic behavior such as being a holoepiphyte or hemiepiphyte, nor does it occupy aquatic or semiaquatic environments. Its structural development is defined by a robust, woody growth form, consistent with its classification as a self-supporting shrub.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

1.2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Miconia crenata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency within its ecosystem. The morphological aspects of its foliage play a significant role in its physiological performance, with leaves exhibiting an average length of 10.7 cm and an average width of 5.4 cm. Furthermore, the leaf structure is notably delicate, maintaining an average thickness of 0.016 mm, a trait that influences gas exchange and transpiration rates.

Leaf length mean:

10.7 cm

Leaf thickness mean:

0.016 mm

Leaf width mean:

5.4 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Miconia crenata is characterized by the production of fleshy fruits, a trait that facilitates its primary dispersal syndrome, which is zoochorous. This animal-mediated dispersal is further specified as endozoochorous, suggesting that seeds are ingested and transported by fauna. The seeds themselves are minute, with a mean mass of $3 \times 10^{-5}$ g (with both minimum and maximum values reaching this same measurement) and a mean length of 0.2 mm. In terms of physical dimensions, the seeds exhibit a maximum height of 0.1 mm and a maximum width of 0.1 mm. The seed volume varies across a narrow range, with a minimum of 0.001 mm³, a maximum of 0.005 mm³, and a mean volume of 0.003 mm³.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Seed height max:

0.1 mm

Seed length mean:

0.2 mm

Seed mass mean:

3e-05 g

Seed volume max:

0.005 mm³

Seed volume mean:

0.003 mm³

Seed volume min:

0.001 mm³

Seed width max:

0.1 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Miconia crenata has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective.

Antioxidant

1. Journal of environmental pathology, toxicology and oncology : official organ of the International Society for Environmental Toxicology and Cancer

Hepatoprotective

1. Journal of environmental pathology, toxicology and oncology : official organ of the International Society for Environmental Toxicology and Cancer