Talisia nervosa

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Talisia tiricensis
• Talisia grandifolia
• Talisia amaruayana
• Talisia dwyeri

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Talisia nervosa, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Sapindales. Finally, it is a member of the family Sapindaceae and is situated within the genus Talisia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution spanning across parts of Central and South America. In Central America, its range includes the countries of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panamá. Moving into Northern South America, the species can be found growing in Venezuela. Additionally, its presence extends further east to include French Guiana. These diverse locations highlight the tropical habitats where this medicinal plant thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Talisia nervosa is characterized by its presence within the Floresta de Terra Firme, where it thrives in stable, non-flooded forest environments. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, occurring at elevations ranging from 0 m AMSL up to a maximum of 1000 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Floresta de Terra Firme

Morphology

The morphology of Talisia nervosa is characterized by a woody growth form that functions primarily as a tree. This plant is a terrestrial species, lacking aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies, and operates as an independent organism without parasitic behavior. In terms of its structural development, it exhibits a self-supporting climbing habit, categorized as both a self-supporting liana and a self-supporting vine, rather than acting as an obligate or facultative climber. It is strictly a terrestrial plant, not functioning as a holoepiphyte, hemiepiphyte, or any other form of epiphyte. The physical stature of the plant is substantial, with a maximum plant height reaching approximately 8 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

8 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Talisia nervosa is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. In terms of leaf tissue composition, the plant exhibits a highly specific Leaf Dry Matter Content (LDMC), with a mean, minimum, and maximum value all consistently recorded at 617.4 mg/g. This uniform LDMC value indicates a stabilized structural investment within the leaf tissue, reflecting a consistent ratio of dry mass to leaf area that supports its metabolic requirements and environmental adaptations.

Leaf dry matter content (LDMC) mean:

617.4 mg/g

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

Reproduction in Talisia nervosa is facilitated through the production of fleshy, indehiscent fruits that serve as the primary vehicle for seed dispersal. Once the flowering cycle is complete and fertilization has occurred, the plant develops fruits that eventually release seeds characterized by a specific morphological range. These seeds are notably elongated, with a seed length that typically fluctuates between a minimum of 15 mm and a maximum of 30 mm. This variation in size plays a crucial role in the plant's reproductive success, as the dispersal of these seeds—often aided by fauna—ensures the colonization of new territories and the maintenance of genetic diversity within its natural habitat.

Seed length max:

30 mm

Seed length min:

15 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

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

Antimalarial

1. Pharmaceutical biology