Palicourea acuminata

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Uragoga acuminata
• Uragoga urophylla
• Psychotria urophylla
• Psychotria acuminata
• Psychotria acuminata var. latifolia

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Gentianaales, it is classified under the family Rubiaceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Palicourea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution spanning from North America through Central America. Within Mexico, it can be found across various regions including the Gulf, the Southwest, and the Southeast. Its presence extends southward into Central America, where it inhabits the country of Belize. Additionally, the species is documented to grow within the territory of Costa Rica. Together, these locations highlight the plant's wide ecological range across these diverse tropical and subtropical landscapes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Palicourea acuminata is characterized by its significant adaptability across diverse Amazonian wetland and terrestrial ecosystems, specifically occupying habitats such as Campinarana, Floresta de Igapó, Floresta de Terra Firme, and Floresta de Várzea. This species demonstrates a broad altitudinal tolerance, distributed across an elevational range that extends from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum of 2700 m AMSL. By inhabiting these varied environments—ranging from seasonally flooded forests and nutrient-poor sandy soils to high-altitude terrains—the plant successfully navigates a wide spectrum of hydrological and soil compositions.

Elevational range max:

2700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Campinarana, Floresta de Igapó, Floresta de Terra Firme, Floresta de Várzea

Life history

The life history of Palicourea acuminata is characterized by its growth habit as a phanerophyte, as it maintains its perennial woody structure with buds located well above the ground level. Within the spectrum of botanical life forms, it is categorized primarily as a phanerophyte, though it can also exhibit characteristics of a nanophanerophyte depending on the specific environmental conditions and the resulting height of its woody stems. This plant follows a perennial life cycle, establishing a stable presence in its native habitat through the development of persistent aerial shoots that allow it to withstand seasonal fluctuations. Its developmental strategy focuses on long-term survival through these elevated perennial structures, distinguishing it from shorter-lived forms such as hemicryptophytes or therophytes.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Palicourea acuminata is characterized by a woody growth form, typically manifesting as a shrub. It is a terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism, exhibiting no parasitic behavior. In terms of its structural stature, the plant reaches an average height of approximately 2 m, though it can attain a maximum height of up to 4 m. While it possesses a self-supporting habit, it does not function as an obligatory or facultative climber, such as a liana or vine, nor does it exhibit epiphytic tendencies, remaining strictly terrestrial in its ecological positioning.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

4 m

Plant height mean:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Palicourtea acuminata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency within its ecological niche. In terms of its leaf tissue composition, the plant exhibits a highly consistent leaf dry matter content (LDMC), with a recorded mean, minimum, and maximum value all strictly stabilized at 301.5 mg/g. This uniformity in LDMC suggests a specialized structural investment in leaf biomass and a highly regulated relationship between organic matter and water content within the foliar tissues.

Leaf dry matter content (LDMC) mean:

301.5 mg/g

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Palicourea acuminata has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Pheophorbide a, Pyropheophorbide-a.

Pheophorbide a

1. Photochemistry and photobiology

Pyropheophorbide-a

1. Photochemistry and photobiology

Preparations

Palicourea acuminata has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extract.

Extract

1. Photochemistry and photobiology