Piper gaudichaudianum

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Artanthe gaudichaudiana
• Piper gaudichaudianum var. minus
• Steffensia gaudichaudiana
• Piper gaudichaudianum var. longilimbum
• Piper gaudichaudianum var. latilimbum
• Piper obscurum
• Piper rectinervulum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Piperales, it is classified under the family Piperaceae. Finally, it is situated within the genus Piper as the species Piper gaudichaudianum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is distributed across various regions of Western South America, including Bolivia. Within Brazil, its presence is widespread across multiple distinct territories. It can be found throughout the West-Central region of the country. Additionally, the species inhabits the Northeast and Southeast parts of Brazil. Finally, its geographical range extends into the North region of Brazil as well.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Piper gaudicchauidanium is characterized by its presence across a diverse array of Brazilian biomes and ecosystems, including Anthropogenic areas, Cerrado (latu sensu), Riparian or Gallery Forests, Semi-deciduous Seasonal Forests, Ombrophilous (Rainforest) Forests, and Restinga habitats. This species exhibits significant altitudinal flexibility, occupying a broad elevational range that extends from 500 m AMSL to a maximum of 2000 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

500 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Restinga

Morphology

The morphology of Piper gaudicauidianum is characterized by a woody structure that establishes it as a perennial plant with a robust physical presence. In terms of its growth form, it manifests primarily as a shrub or small tree, exhibiting a sturdy and woody constitution. While it possesses the structural capacity to be self-supporting rather than acting as an obligatory climber or vine, it maintains a stable, non-climbing habit. The plant is strictly terrestrial in its ecological positioning, functioning as an independent organism that does not exhibit parasitic behavior and does not operate as an epiphyte, whether in a holoepiphytic or hemiepiphytic capacity. Furthermore, its habitat requirements are strictly land-based, as it lacks any aquatic or semiaquatic adaptations, remaining firmly rooted in terrestrial environments.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Piper gaudicauidianum is characterized by the development of specialized fruit structures that transition from a fleshy state to a dry consistency. The seeds produced during this process exhibit a highly uniform morphology, with a measured seed volume that remains constant at a mean, minimum, and maximum value of 4.2 mm³. This consistency in seed size, combined with the specific fruit dryness profiles ranging from fleshy to dry, plays a critical role in the plant's reproductive strategy and subsequent dispersal mechanisms.

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Seed volume max:

4.2 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Piper gaudichaudianum has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Gaudichaudianic Acid.

Gaudichaudianic Acid

1. Journal of natural products