Picramnia sellowii

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Picramnia sellowii f. intermedia
• Picramnia sellowii f. glabrescens
• Picramnia sellowii f. hirsuta
• Picramnia pendula
• Picramnia sellowii var. latifolia

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae, falling within the order Picramniales. Furthermore, it is a member of the family Picramniaceae and the genus Picramnia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several distinct regions of the South American continent. In the northern reaches of the continent, it can be found throughout French Guiana and Guyana. Moving toward the western side of the continent, the species is documented in both Ecuador and Bolivia. Additionally, its range extends into the central regions of Brazil, specifically within the West-Central area. Together, these locations highlight a diverse ecological presence spanning from the Guiana Shield to the Andean foothills.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Picramnia sellowii is characterized by its presence in high-altitude forest environments, specifically within the habitat known as bosque alto. This species exhibits a broad vertical distribution across various landscapes, occupying an elevational range that begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends up to a maximum altitude of 2400 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2400 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Bosque alto

Life history

The life history of Picramnia selloei is characterized by its classification as a perennial organism, meaning it maintains its existence over multiple years rather than completing its cycle in a single season. In terms of its structural growth strategy and ecological positioning, the plant is categorized as a phanerophyte, indicating that its perennially growing buds are located high above the ground on woody stems or branches. This phanerophyte life form is consistent across its developmental stages, ensuring that the plant's vital reproductive and vegetative structures are protected from various environmental stressors through its elevated growth habit.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Picramnia sellowii is characterized by a woody growth form that manifests primarily as a tree or a shrub. This species is a terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism, meaning it does not exhibit parasitic behavior. In terms of stature, it reaches a height ranging from a maximum of 8 meters to an average of 10 meters. While it possesses a self-supporting structure rather than acting as an obligatory or facultative climber, liana, or vine, its physical development is strictly terrestrial, lacking any epiphytic tendencies such as being a holoepiphyte or hemiepiphyte.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

8 m

Plant height mean:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Picramnia selloi is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic strategy in many woody tropical species that utilizes the enzyme Rubisco for initial carbon fixation during the Calvin cycle. Furthermore, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, relying instead on the uptake of available nitrates and ammonium from the soil substrate.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Picramnia selloiwi is characterized by a specific reproductive strategy regarding its genetic dispersal and pollination mechanisms. Within its flowering cycle, the plant exhibits a lack of self-fertilization, as the trait of self-fertilization is documented as absent. This indicates that the species relies on cross-pollination to facilitate sexual reproduction, ensuring genetic diversity through the exchange of pollen between different individual plants. Consequently, the reproductive success of the species is dependent on external vectors, such as insects or wind, to move pollen from one flower to another, as the biological mechanism for self-pollination is not present.

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Picramnia sellowii has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include betulinic acid, nataloe-emodin.

betulinic acid

1. Dr. Duke

nataloe-emodin

1. Journal of natural products

Activities

Picramnia sellowii has 19 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anthelmintic, AntiHIV, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Anticarcinomic.

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiedemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Antileukemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antimalarial

1. Dr. Duke

Antimelanomic

1. Dr. Duke