Semialarium mexicanum

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Hemiangium excelsum
• Hippocratea excelsa
• Hippocratea obovata
• Hippocratea bilobicarpa
• Hippocratea chiapensis
• Hippocratea mexicana
• Hippocratea seleriana
• Hippocratea subintegra
• Hippocratea uniflora
• Hippocratea yucatanensis
• Prionostemma setulifera

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is positioned in the order Celastrales and the family Celastraceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Semialarium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse range of habitats across various regions of Mexico. It can be found growing throughout the central parts of the country in Mexico Central. Its presence extends into the eastern territories, specifically within Mexico Northeast and Mexico Gulf. Additionally, the species is distributed across the western regions of Mexico Northwest and Mexico Southwest. Collectively, these areas define the broad geographical footprint of Semilarium mexicanum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Semialarium mexicanum is characterized by its presence within forest ecosystems, where it thrives under specific environmental parameters. This species occupies a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1000 m AMSL. This vertical distribution suggests an adaptability to varying pressure and temperature regimes within forested landscapes, spanning from lowland tropical or subtropical environments to mid-elevation montane zones.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest

Morphology

The morphology of Semilarium mexicanum is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically manifesting as a tree that can reach a significant mean plant height of 8 m. This species is classified as a terrestrial plant, rather than an aquatic or epiphytic one, and functions as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies. In terms of its structural habit, it displays a self-supporting nature, though it possesses the characteristics of a liana.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

8 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Semilarium mexicanum is characterized by specific structural parameters that reflect its morphological adaptation and biomass distribution. The stem architecture exhibits a consistent structural integrity, as indicated by a Stem Specific Density (SSD) that remains uniform across its measured range; specifically, the SSD_min, SSD_mean, and SSD_max are all recorded at 620 mg/cm³. This lack of variance in stem density suggests a highly stabilized tissue composition within the vascular and supporting structures of the plant. Complementing this structural stability is the leaf morphology, which is quantified by a Specific Leaf Area (SLA) with a mean value of 138.728 cm²/g. This SLA value provides insight into the plant's resource allocation strategy, balancing leaf thickness and surface area to optimize photosynthetic efficiency and gas exchange within its physiological framework.

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

138.728 cm²/g

Stem specific density (SSD) min:

620 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Semialarium mexicanum is characterized by a highly consistent seed profile and specific dispersal mechanisms. The plant produces seeds with a uniform mass, where both the minimum, mean, and maximum values are recorded at 0.0801 g, indicating a lack of significant variation in seed size within the population. Regarding its dispersal strategy, the species utilizes an anemochorous syndrome, meaning its seeds are primarily dispersed by the wind, though it may also exhibit characteristics associated with other modes such as zoochory, autochory, hydrochory, or unspecialized dispersal depending on environmental interactions.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Seed mass mean:

0.0801 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Semialarium mexicanum has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, stem.

Root

1. Journal of natural products

Stem

1. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Semialarium mexicanum has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 21alpha-Hydroxy-3-oxofriedelane, Emarginatine A, Hippocrateine I, Hippocrateine II, Pristimerine.

21alpha-Hydroxy-3-oxofriedelane

1. Journal of natural products

Emarginatine A

1. Journal of natural products

Hippocrateine I

1. Journal of natural products

Hippocrateine II

1. Journal of natural products

Pristimerine

1. Journal of natural products

Tingenone

1. Journal of natural products

dzununcanone

1. Journal of natural products

Conditions

Semialarium mexicanum has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Trichinella spiralis.

Trichinella spiralis

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Semialarium mexicanum has 5 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Aqueous and methanolic extracts, aqueous and methanolic extracts, hexane extract, methanol extracts, root bark.

Aqueous and methanolic extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous and methanolic extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hexane extract

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Methanol extracts

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Root bark

1. Journal of natural products