Thouinia striata

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Thyana striata

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 Sapindales, it is classified under the family Sapindaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement within the genus Thouinia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is characterized by a very specific and limited geographical range. Within the vast expanse of the Caribbean region, its presence is notably documented. Specifically, Thouinia striata can be found growing in the natural landscapes of Puerto Rico. This localized distribution suggests that the species is adapted to the unique environmental conditions of this island. Consequently, its habitat remains concentrated within this particular tropical territory.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Thouinia striata is characterized by its nature as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over many years through successive growing seasons. Throughout its development, the plant maintains an evergreen status, retaining its foliage consistently rather than shedding it seasonally, which ensures a continuous presence of photosynthetic tissue.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Thouinia striata is characterized by its robust and woody structure, manifesting primarily as a tree or shrub. This plant typically reaches a significant plant height, with a mean height of approximately 10 m. It is a terrestrial species, neither aquatic nor semiaquatic, and functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of its physical habit, the plant is self-supporting, possessing a growth form that does not require climbing as a liana or vine to maintain its stature.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Thouaria striata is characterized by its specific metabolic and nutritional processes, most notably its utilization of the C3 photosynthetic pathway for carbon fixation. This pathway involves the direct fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle within the mesophyll cells, a characteristic typical of many woody plant species. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable biological form, relying instead on the uptake of available nitrogenous compounds from the soil.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Thouinia striata has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Cytotoxic.

Anticancer

1. Puerto Rico health sciences journal

Cytotoxic

1. Puerto Rico health sciences journal

Conditions

Thouinia striata has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include breast cancer.

Breast cancer

1. Puerto Rico health sciences journal

Preparations

Thouinia striata has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include dried plant material.

Dried plant material

1. Puerto Rico health sciences journal