Naucleopsis glabra

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several regions in South America. In the northern part of the continent, it can be found within the territories of French Guiana and Suriname. Moving toward the western side of the continent, its range extends into the country of Colombia. It is also documented as growing within the borders of Ecuador. Finally, the geographical reach of this species includes the nation of Bolivia in western South America.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Naucleopsis glabra is characterized by its preference for specific forest structures and altitudinal gradients. This species is primarily found within the Floresta de Terra Firme, where it thrives in stable, non-flooded forest environments. Its distribution across varying landscapes is defined by an elevational range that begins at 50 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum altitude of 900 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

900 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

50 m AMSL

Habitat :

Floresta de Terra Firme

Morphology

The morphology of Naucleopsis glabra is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically developing as a tree that can reach a maximum plant height of 20 meters. As an independent organism, it does not exhibit parasitic behavior, functioning as a terrestrial plant rather than an epiphyte. Its structural habit is that of a self-supporting plant, lacking the characteristics of a climber, liana, or vine. Although its habitat can vary across aquatic, semiaquatic, and terrestrial environments, its primary morphological classification remains that of a robust, self-supporting woody tree.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Naucleopsis glabra is characterized by its specialized metabolic processes, most notably its reliance on the C3 photosynthetic pathway. In this process, the plant utilizes the enzyme Rubisco to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide directly into a three-carbon compound during the initial stage of the Calvin cycle. This C3 pathway indicates that the plant undergoes carbon fixation primarily through the mesophyll cells without the spatial or temporal separation seen in C4 or CAM species, making its metabolic efficiency highly dependent on environmental factors such as light intensity, temperature, and moisture availability. Furthermore, its physiological functions are geared toward maintaining cellular homeostasis and driving biomass production through these standard aerobic respiration and carbon assimilation cycles typical of many tropical woody species.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Naucleopsis glabra 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 stem.

Stem

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Naucleopsis glabra has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Ethanol extracts of stem barks.

Ethanol extracts of stem barks

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology