Otoba gracilipes

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern that spans across parts of Central and South America. In the region of Central America, its presence is documented in Costa Rica and Panamá. Moving toward Western South America, the species can also be found growing in Colombia. Furthermore, its range extends into the neighboring territory of Ecuador. Consequently, these four countries represent the primary geographical areas where this medicinal species is located.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Otoba gracilipes is characterized by its distribution across a broad altitudinal gradient, spanning from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 540 m AMSL. This specific elevational range suggests that the species is primarily adapted to lowland environments, likely thriving in tropical or subtropical forest ecosystems where humidity and temperature remain relatively stable. By occupying habitats from 0 to 540 m AMSL, the plant demonstrates a capacity to colonize various low-altitude ecological niches, which may include riverine areas or dense lowland rainforest margins where soil moisture and light availability are conducive to its growth patterns.

Elevational range max:

540 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Morphology

The morphology of Otoba gracilipes is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, which can reach a maximum plant height of 20 meters. This species functions as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic tendencies, and is classified as a terrestrial plant rather than an aquatic or semiaquatic one. Unlike climbing species that act as lianas, vines, or obligatory climbers, this plant is self-supporting and does not exhibit climbing behavior. Furthermore, it is strictly terrestrial in its growth habit, lacking any epiphytic characteristics such as being a holoepiphyte or hemiepiphyte.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Otoba gracilipes is characterized by a metabolic framework governed by the C3 photosynthetic pathway. In this process, the initial fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide occurs through the enzyme ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO), which incorporates $CO_2$ into a three-carbon molecule known as 3-phosphoglycerate. This biochemical mechanism dictates the plant's gas exchange patterns and water-use efficiency, as the reliance on C3 metabolism involves a direct dependency on stomatal conductance for $CO_2$ uptake, often making the plant's physiological performance sensitive to varying light intensities and ambient temperatures.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Otoba gracilipes 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 leaf.

Leaf

1. MicrobiologyOpen