Phytelephas macrocarpa

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several distinct tropical regions. In Central America, its presence is noted within the country of Panamá. Its range extends into the Caribbean, where it can be found in Trinidad and Tobago. Furthermore, the species is widely distributed throughout Western South America. Specifically, it inhabits the territories of Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Phytelephas macrocarpa is characterized by its presence in the Floresta de Terra Firme, where it thrives within these stable, non-flooded forest ecosystems. It exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 1700 m AMSL. Regarding its biological survival strategies, the species is noted for having no specific specialized defense mechanisms recorded.

Defense :

no

Elevational range max:

1700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Floresta de Terra Firme

Life history

The life history of Phytelephas macrocarpa is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its long-term presence within its natural ecosystem through multiple growing seasons. As a chamaephyte, its life form is defined by its growth habit, where the majority of the plant's vegetative structure remains close to the ground level, protected by the substrate or leaf litter. Furthermore, the species exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its foliage throughout the year without undergoing a seasonal shedding of leaves, allowing for continuous physiological activity.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Phyttelephas macrocarpa is characterized by a woody, self-supporting growth form that functions as both a tree and a palm. This terrestrial plant exhibits an erect shoot orientation and reaches an average plant height of approximately 4.33 meters, with a maximum recorded height of 4 meters. As an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte, it maintains a stable terrestrial presence. The plant's structural development includes a maximum diameter at breast height (DBH) of 30 cm and can produce shoots with a maximum length of up to 400 cm.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

DBH max:

30 cm

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

palm

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

4 m

Plant height mean:

4.33333333333333 m

Shoot length max:

400 cm

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Phyttelephas macrocarpica is characterized by several distinct morphological and metabolic traits. The plant utilizes a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common mechanism for carbon fixation in many tropical species. Morphologically, its foliage can reach impressive dimensions, with a maximum leaf length recorded at 850 cm. Regarding its physical defenses and structural adaptations, the leaves are notable for the absence of leaf spines, lacking these sharp protrusions. Furthermore, from a nutritional and symbiotic standpoint, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it does not possess the specialized physiological mechanisms to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form for growth.

Leaf length max:

850 cm

Leaf spines :

no

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Phytelephas macrocarpa is characterized by a reproductive strategy that avoids self-fertilization, as the process of self-fertilization is absent in this species. The plant produces substantial fruits that serve as the primary vessel for seed development, with dimensions varying significantly; the fruit length typically averages 10.5 cm, ranging from a minimum of 6 cm to a maximum of 16 cm. In terms of girth, the fruit width shows a mean of 14.75 cm, with measurements spanning from a minimum of 12 cm to a maximum of 18 cm. Upon maturity, the fruits exhibit a distinct brown colour. The dispersal of the resulting seeds follows a zoochorous syndrome, relying on animal vectors to transport the offspring to new locations, which plays a critical role in the plant's life cycle and spatial distribution.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit colour :

brown

Fruit length max:

16 cm

Fruit length mean:

10.5 cm

Fruit length min:

6 cm

Fruit width max:

18 cm

Fruit width mean:

14.75 cm

Fruit width min:

12 cm

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Phytelephas macrocarpa has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Ash, FAT, galactose, glucose, mannose.

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

galactose

1. Dr. Duke

glucose

1. Dr. Duke

mannose

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Phytelephas macrocarpa has 26 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Acetylcholinergic, Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker, AntiUTI, Antiadhesive, Anticystitic.

Acetylcholinergic

1. Dr. Duke

Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

AntiUTI

1. Dr. Duke

Antiadhesive

1. Dr. Duke

Anticystitic

1. Dr. Duke

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiedemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antihepatotoxic

1. Dr. Duke

Antihypertensive

1. Dr. Duke

Antiketotic

1. Dr. Duke