Pouteria ramiflora

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lucuma chrysophylloides
• Microluma parviflora
• Pseudocladia lateriflora
• Paralabatia ramiflora
• Paralabatia parviflora
• Labatia ramiflora
• Pouteria ramiflora var. grandifolia
• Pouteria ramiflora var. oblongifolia
• Labatia chrysophylloides
• Pouteria parviflora
• Richardella parviflora
• Pouteria ovata
• Pouteria lateriflora
• Lucuma ramiflora
• Lucuma parviflora
• Lucuma lateriflora

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Pouteria ramiflora, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae within the order Ericales. Finally, it is a member of the family Sapotaecae and falls under the genus Pouteria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several key regions in South America. In Western South America, its presence is specifically noted within Bolivia. The species is widely spread throughout Brazil, covering a vast array of diverse territories. Its range includes the North, Northeast, and Southeast regions of the country. Additionally, it can be found inhabiting the West-Central area of Brazil.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pouteria ramiflora is characterized by its preference for specific tropical ecosystems, notably within the Cerrado (latu sensu) and Restingas. This species thrives within distinct altitudinal gradients, occupying an elevational range that begins at 200 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 500 m AMSL. These habitats provide the specific environmental conditions necessary for its growth and distribution within these biological formations.

Elevational range max:

500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

200 m AMSL

Habitat :

Cerrado (lato sensu), Restinga

Life history

The life history of Pouteria ramiflora is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist in its environment over many years. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody stems, a structural adaptation that defines its growth habit and survival strategy. This phanerophyte life form ensures that the plant maintains a significant vertical presence, contributing to its long-term development within its ecological niche.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pouteria ramiflora is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that typically reaches a plant height of 20 to 25 meters. As an independent organism, it does not function as a parasite and maintains a terrestrial existence, rather than being aquatic or epiphytic. While its structure is robust and tree-like, its climbing nature is classified as self-supporting, distinguishing it from obligatory or facultative vines and lianas.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Plant height mean:

25 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pouteria ramiflora is characterized by its metabolic processes and nutrient acquisition strategies. The plant utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common mechanism in many tropical woody species where carbon dioxide is fixed directly into a three-carbon compound during the Calvin cycle. In terms of nutrient cycling and symbiotic relationships, it is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized root nodules required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms through symbiotic bacteria.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pouteria ramiflora is characterized by the production of fruits that possess a fleshy texture, a trait that typically aids in seed dispersal through biotic vectors. The reproductive cycle culminates in the development of seeds that exhibit a highly consistent volume; specifically, the seed volume remains constant at a mean of 3000 mm³, with both the minimum and maximum recorded values reaching exactly 3000 mm³. This uniformity in seed size, combined with the fleshy nature of the fruit, plays a critical role in the plant's ability to propagate within its natural habitat.

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Seed volume max:

3000 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Pouteria ramiflora has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Journal of medicinal food

Chemicals

Pouteria ramiflora has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Gallic acid, Epi-Friedelanol, Flavonoids, Friedelin, Superoxide dismutase.

Gallic acid

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A
2. Journal of medicinal food

Epi-Friedelanol

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Flavonoids

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Friedelin

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Superoxide dismutase

1. Metabolic brain disease

Taraxerol

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

myricetin

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

Activities

Pouteria ramiflora has 2 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimutagenic, Cytotoxic.

Antimutagenic

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of medicinal food

Conditions

Pouteria ramiflora has 12 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include inflammation, cancer, diarrhea, dysentery, fever.

Inflammation

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A
2. Journal of medicinal food

Cancer

1. Journal of medicinal food

Diarrhea

1. Journal of medicinal food

Dysentery

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

Fever

1. Journal of medicinal food

Hepatocellular carcinoma

1. Journal of medicinal food

Hyperglycemia

1. Metabolic brain disease

Hyperlipidemia

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

Obesity

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

Oxidative damage

1. Metabolic brain disease

Preparations

Pouteria ramiflora has 2 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include alcoholic extract, crude extracts.

Alcoholic extract

1. Metabolic brain disease

Crude extracts

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine