Urera baccifera

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Urera horrida
• Urera baccifera var. horrida
• Urera armigera
• Urtica armigera
• Urtica baccifera
• Urera viridisetosa
• Calostima aculeata
• Urera rugosa

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Rosaless, falling into the family Urticaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Urera.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad presence across various regions of Mexico. It can be found growing throughout the central part of the country in Mexico Central. Its distribution also extends to the coastal and inland areas of Mexico Northeast and Mexico Gulf. Additionally, the species is documented in the western territories of Mexico Northwest. Finally, the plant is widely spread through the southern reaches of Mexico Southwest.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Urera baccifera is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution and a high degree of habitat versatility across diverse Neotropical biomes. The species can be found across an expansive elevational range, starting from sea level (0 m AMSL) and ascending to a maximum altitude of 3000 m AMSL, with a mean elevation of approximately 1770 m AMSL. This wide vertical gradient allows the plant to inhabit various ecological niches, ranging from lowland areas to high-altitude environments. Its habitat preferences are notably diverse, encompassing Cerrado (latu sensu), Ciliary or Gallery Forests, Terra Firme Forests, Semi-deciduous Seasonal Forests, Ombrophilous Forests (including Pluvial Forests), and Mixed Ombrophilous Forests. This adaptability suggests that Urera baccifera is capable of thriving in both seasonally dry and consistently humid forest structures, as well as within the open and transitional landscapes of the Brazilian savanna.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1770 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta de Terra Firme, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Floresta Ombrófila Mista

Life history

The life history of Urera baccifera is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over many growing seasons. As a plant, it exhibits a phanerophyte life form, specifically categorized under both phanerophyte and phanerophyte classifications, meaning its perennating buds are located high above the ground on woody stems. This growth strategy enables the plant to maintain structural stability and survive varying environmental conditions through its long-term developmental cycle.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

Morphologically, Urera baccifera is characterized as a woody shrub that exhibits a self-supporting growth habit. The plant is terrestrial in nature, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of stature, it displays significant vertical variability, with plant heights ranging from a minimum of 1 m to a maximum of 6 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 4 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

6 m

Plant height mean:

4 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Urera baccifera is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic strategy used to facilitate carbon fixation in various environmental conditions. The plant exhibits a highly consistent leaf dry matter content (LDMC), with mean, minimum, and maximum values all measured at 120.2 mg/g, indicating a stable structural investment in leaf tissue. Furthermore, regarding its nutrient acquisition processes, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on external soil nitrogen sources rather than symbiotic biological nitrogen fixation to meet its nutritional requirements.

Leaf dry matter content (LDMC) mean:

120.2 mg/g

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Urera baccifera is characterized by the production of seeds that exhibit specific morphological and physical variations. The seeds produced by this species possess a mean seed mass of 0.065 g, with individual masses ranging from a minimum of 0.05 g to a maximum of 0.08 g. In terms of dimensions, the seed length is highly variable, showing a mean length of 3 mm, while the actual length of the seeds can fluctuate between a minimum of 1 mm and a maximum of 6 mm. Furthermore, the seed volume remains consistent across the observed specimens, with both the minimum, maximum, and mean seed volume recorded at 6.3 mm³.

Seed length max:

6 mm

Seed length mean:

3 mm

Seed length min:

1 mm

Seed mass max:

0.08 g

Seed mass mean:

0.065 g

Seed mass min:

0.05 g

Seed volume max:

6.3 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Urera baccifera has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Diosmetin, Flavonoids.

Diosmetin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Urera baccifera has 6 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antinociceptive, Antioxidant, Antirheumatic, Antisecretory.

Analgesic

1. Revista de biologia tropical

Antinociceptive

1. Revista de biologia tropical

Antioxidant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antirheumatic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antisecretory

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antiulcerogenic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Urera baccifera has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include inflammation, pain.

Inflammation

1. Revista de biologia tropical

Pain

1. Revista de biologia tropical

Preparations

Urera baccifera has 4 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Aqueous extracts, HEU, aqueous fraction, hydroalcoholic extract of the leaves.

Aqueous extracts

1. Revista de biologia tropical

Heu

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous fraction

1. Revista de biologia tropical

Hydroalcoholic extract of the leaves

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology