Nectandra oppositifolia

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Laurus rigida
• Nectandra oppositifolia var. amplifolia
• Nectandra rigida var. canescens
• Nectandra rigida
• Nectandra oppositifolia var. attenuata
• Nectandra mollis subsp. oppositifolia
• Nectandra schottii
• Nectandra labouriaviana
• Nectandra oppositifolia var. angustifolia
• Ocotea rigida

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Laurales and the family Lauraceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Nectandra.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several regions of the Americas. In Central America, its presence is documented specifically within the country of Panamá. Moving into Western South America, the species can be found in Bolivia, Colombia, and Ecuador. Additionally, the plant extends into the South American continent through the West-Central region of Brazil. Together, these locations highlight a broad range spanning from Central America to the heart of South America.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Nectandra oppositifolia is characterized by its broad adaptability across diverse Brazilian biomes and a wide altitudinal distribution. This species can be found inhabiting a variety of environments, including the Caatinga (strictu sensu), Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ciliar or Galeria, Floresta Estacional Semi-decidual, Floresta Ombrófila (also known as Floresta Pluvial), and Restinga. Its vertical distribution is extensive, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to an elevation of 2000 m AMSL, allowing it to persist in both lowland coastal regions and higher montane ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Caatinga (stricto sensu), Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Restinga

Life history

The life history of Nectandra oppositifolia 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 does not rely on a single reproductive event to ensure the survival of its lineage, but rather maintains a continuous presence within its ecological niche. This perennial nature enables the plant to establish robust root systems and vegetative structures that can withstand seasonal fluctuations, facilitating repeated flowering and seed production over several years. Through this sustained lifecycle, the species can effectively colonize stable habitats and respond dynamically to environmental availability, ensuring long-term population stability.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Nectandra oppositifolia is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically manifesting as a tree that can reach a maximum plant height of 20 m. Although it possesses the structural capacity for climbing, its growth habit is categorized as self-supporting rather than acting as an obligatory or facultative liana. The species is strictly terrestrial in its ecological positioning, lacking any epiphytic tendencies such as being a holoepiphyte or hemiepiphyte, and it does not occupy aquatic or semiaquatic habitats. Furthermore, the plant functions as an independent organism, showing no parasitic behavior, whether obligatory or facultative.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Nectandra oppositifolia is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a metabolic process where carbon fixation occurs via the Calvin cycle without the specialized CO2-concentrating mechanisms found in C4 or CAM plants. Regarding its structural resource allocation and leaf economics, the plant exhibits a consistent leaf dry matter content (LDMC) with a mean, minimum, and maximum value all recorded at 447.6 mg/g. This uniformity in LDMC suggests a highly stable leaf tissue density and nutrient concentration, reflecting specific adaptations in how the plant manages its biomass and leaf longevity within its ecological niche.

Leaf dry matter content (LDMC) mean:

447.6 mg/g

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Nectandra oppositifolia has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 2,6-Dimethoxybenzoquinone, Dehydrodiisoeugenol, Galgravin, Laurelliptine, Nectandrin B.

2,6-Dimethoxybenzoquinone

1. Journal of natural products

Dehydrodiisoeugenol

1. Journal of natural products

Galgravin

1. Journal of natural products

Laurelliptine

1. Journal of natural products

Nectandrin B

1. Journal of natural products

nectandrin A

1. Journal of natural products

vanillin

1. Journal of natural products