Vismia cayennensis

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Vismia floribunda
• Caopia cayennensis
• Hypericum cayennense

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known as Vismia cayennensis, belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta. It is further classified under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, falling within the order Malpighiales. Finally, it is a member of the family Hypericaceae and is categorized under the genus Vismia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is distributed across several specific regions within the Caribbean and Northern South America. In the Caribbean, its presence is documented within the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. Moving to the mainland, it can be found throughout the territory of Venezuela. The species also inhabits the Guiana Shield, specifically covering Guyana and Suriname. Finally, its geographical range extends into the region of French Guiana.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Vismia cayennensis is characterized by its presence within specific altitudinal gradients in tropical forest ecosystems. This species occupies a specialized niche, primarily thriving within an elevational range that begins at 760 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 1380 m AMSL. This distribution suggests an adaptation to mid-elevation montane or submontane environments, where it must contend with specific moisture regimes and temperature fluctuations typical of these altitudes. The environmental constraints within this 620-meter vertical span influence its competitive interactions and its role within the local biodiversity of its native habitat.

Elevational range max:

1380 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

760 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Vismia cayennensis is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist in its environment over many years rather than completing its cycle in a single season. As a long-lived species, it follows a developmental trajectory that moves beyond the temporary stages of annuals or biennials, establishing a stable presence within its ecological niche. This perennial nature enables the plant to invest significant energy into structural growth and long-term survival, ensuring it can withstand seasonal fluctuations and contribute to the forest canopy or understory through multiple reproductive cycles throughout its extended lifespan.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Vismia cayennensis is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, which functions as a self-supporting structure rather than a climber or vine. This species typically reaches a mean plant height of 10 m, though it can grow to a maximum height of 18 m. As a terrestrial plant, it does not exhibit aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies, nor does it function as an epiphyte; instead, it maintains an independent existence without acting as a parasite on other organisms.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

18 m

Plant height mean:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Vismia cayennensis is characterized by complex metabolic processes typical of tropical woody species, primarily focusing on efficient carbon assimilation and nutrient uptake within rainforest ecosystems. Its metabolic framework involves standard photosynthetic pathways to drive biomass production, yet it lacks the specialized symbiotic mechanisms required for atmospheric nitrogen conversion. Specifically, regarding its nutrient acquisition strategies, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it does not possess the biological machinery to establish symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria to convert molecular nitrogen into usable forms. Consequently, its nitrogen physiology is entirely dependent on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system, necessitating a high degree of efficiency in mineral absorption to support its growth and secondary metabolite production.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Vismia cayennensis is characterized by a complex dispersal mechanism that integrates multiple environmental vectors. The plant primarily exhibits a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on animal agents to transport its seeds across the landscape. However, its reproductive strategy is multifaceted, encompassing anemochorous, autochorous, and hydrochorous processes, which allows it to exploit various ecological pathways. This combination of specialized and unspecialized dispersal methods ensures that the species can colonize diverse habitats, utilizing wind, water, self-dispersal, and animal movement to maximize its reproductive success and spatial distribution.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Vismia cayennensis has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Vismia cayennensis has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Vismiaquinone, betulinic acid.

Vismiaquinone

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

betulinic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Vismia cayennensis has 18 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anthelmintic, AntiHIV, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Anticarcinomic.

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiedemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Antileukemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antimalarial

1. Dr. Duke

Antimelanomic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Vismia cayennensis has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Leishmania infection.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations