Pradosia lactescens

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Chrysophyllum lactescens
• Neopometia lactescens
• Pometia lactescens
• Chrysophyllum bumelioides
• Chrysophyllum buranhem
• Chrysophyllum glycyphloeum
• Pradosia glycyphloea
• Pouteria lactescens
• Lucuma glycyphloea

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Pradosia lactescens, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae, falling within the order Ericales. Finally, it is a member of the family Sapotaeceae and the genus Pradosia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several key regions of Brazil. It is notably found within the diverse ecosystems of the Brazil Northeast. Furthermore, its presence extends into the lush landscapes of the Brazil Southeast. The species also populates various areas throughout the Brazil South region. Collectively, these locations highlight the wide geographical range of Pradosia lactescens within the country.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pradosia lactescens is characterized by its preference for the humid environments found within the Floresta Ombrófila (also known as Floresta Pluvial), where high moisture availability and consistent precipitation support its growth. This species is distributed across a low-to-mid altitude gradient, occupying an elevational range that begins at 0 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 500 m AMSL. Within these tropical rainforest ecosystems, the plant thrives in the complex, multilayered structures typical of ombrophilous forests, relying on the specific microclimatic conditions provided by the dense canopy and high humidity levels characteristic of these lowland and sub-montane habitats.

Elevational range max:

500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Life history

The life history of Pradosia lactescens is characterized by its existence as a perennial plant, ensuring its long-term presence within its ecological niche. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on aerial shoots, a structural adaptation that defines its growth habit and survival strategy. This species maintains an evergreen status, retaining its foliage throughout the year rather than undergoing seasonal shedding, which allows for continuous physiological activity. Its biological classification as a phanerophyte is consistent across its life form descriptions, emphasizing its elevated meristematic positioning as a fundamental aspect of its developmental lifecycle.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pradosia lactescens is characterized by its stature as a woody tree, reaching a height of approximately 20 meters. As a terrestrial species, it grows independently without relying on a parasitic relationship, maintaining a self-supporting growth habit rather than acting as a climber, liana, or vine. It does not exhibit epiphytic behavior, such as being a hemi-epiphyte, but instead remains firmly established in terrestrial environments. Its structural composition is distinctly woody, providing the necessary stability for its significant vertical development.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

20 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pradosia lactescens is characterized by specific structural and metabolic parameters that define its vegetative growth and resource acquisition strategies. One key physical attribute is its stem specific density (SSD), which maintains a mean value of 730 mg/cm³, indicating the structural compaction and mechanical integrity of its vascular tissues. Regarding its nutrient cycling and symbiotic relationships, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized root nodules or symbiotic associations required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, relying instead on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

730 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pradosia lactescens is characterized by the production of specific seed structures that facilitate the continuation of the species. Based on morphological data, the seeds exhibit a highly uniform size distribution, with a measured seed length of exactly 23.348 mm. This consistency is reflected across all recorded metrics, as the mean, minimum, and maximum seed length values are identical at 23.348 mm, indicating a lack of variance in seed dimensions within the observed sample. This standardized seed length is a key component of its reproductive profile, ensuring that the progeny possess consistent physical traits necessary for dispersal and subsequent germination.

Seed length mean:

23.348 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Pradosia lactescens has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimalarial.

Antimalarial

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Conditions

Pradosia lactescens has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include malaria.

Malaria

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine