Picrasma excelsa

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated within the tropical regions of Central America and the Caribbean. In Central America, it can be found growing in the countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. Its presence extends across the Caribbean Sea as well. Specifically, the species is documented in the islands of Cuba and the Dominican Republic. These locations highlight the plant's preference for these particular maritime and mainland tropical environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Picrasma excelsa is characterized by its distribution across a broad altitudinal gradient within montane forest ecosystems. This species thrives within an elevational range that extends from a minimum of 450 m AMSL to a maximum of 2100 m AMSL. Occupying these diverse vertical zones, the plant adapts to varying environmental pressures, including fluctuations in temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure associated with different mountain elevations. This wide elevational breadth suggests a high degree of ecological plasticity, allowing it to inhabit a variety of microclimates within its native forest habitats.

Elevational range max:

2100 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

450 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Picrasma excelsa is characterized by its nature as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over many growing seasons. As a deciduous plant, it undergoes a seasonal cycle where it sheds its foliage annually, typically in response to cooler temperatures or changes in photoperiod, entering a period of dormancy before regenerating new leaves in the following spring.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Picrasma excelsa is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, which is an independent species rather than a parasite. This terrestrial plant exhibits a self-supporting structure, lacking the climbing habits of vines or lianas. In terms of its physical stature, the plant reaches a height that typically ranges up to a maximum of 6 m, though it can attain a mean height of approximately 20 m in certain environments. As a terrestrial organism, it does not exhibit epiphytic behavior, such as being a hemi-epiphyte or holoepiphyte, nor does it occupy aquatic or semiaquatic habitats.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

6 m

Plant height mean:

20 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Picrasma excelsa is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which is typical for most woody dicotyledonous plants, involving the direct fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle. In terms of nutrient acquisition and metabolic processes, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil rather than establishing symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Picrasma excelsa has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include BETA-SITOSTEROL, GUM, Isoquassin, N-Methoxy-1-vinyl-beta-carboline, beta-Sitosterone.

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke

GUM

1. Dr. Duke

Isoquassin

1. Dr. Duke

N-Methoxy-1-vinyl-beta-carboline

1. Dr. Duke

beta-Sitosterone

1. Dr. Duke

pectin

1. Dr. Duke

quassin

1. Dr. Duke

thiamin

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Picrasma excelsa has 97 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Amebicide, Analgesic, Androgenic, Angiogenic, Anorexic.

Amebicide

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic

1. Dr. Duke

Angiogenic

1. Dr. Duke

Anorexic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiLyme

1. Dr. Duke

Antiadenomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antialcoholic

1. Dr. Duke

Antialzheimeran

1. Dr. Duke

Antiandrogenic

1. Dr. Duke