Vismia gracilis

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Vismia buchtienii
• Vismia glaziovii
• Vismia amazonica
• Vismia urceolata
• Caopia gracilis

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Malpighiales and the family Hypericaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Vismia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across several regions of the South American continent. In the northern part of the continent, it can be found throughout French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname. It also inhabits various territories within Venezuela, extending its reach across Northern South America. Moving toward the western side of the continent, the species is also documented in Bolivia. Consequently, the geographical range of Vismia gracilis spans from the northern coastal areas to the western interior.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Vismia gracilis is characterized by its adaptability across diverse Neotropical ecosystems, including Cerrado (latu sensu), Ciliar Forest (riparian forest) or Gallery Forest, and Terra Firme Forest. This species occupies a specific altitudinal gradient, typically found at elevations ranging from a minimum of 150 m AMSL to a maximum of 700 m AMSL, with an average elevation of approximately 600 m AMSL. Its presence in these varied habitats suggests a capacity to thrive in both open, seasonal landscapes and more stable, closed-canopy forest environments.

Elevational range max:

700 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

150 m AMSL

Habitat :

Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta de Terra Firme

Life history

The life history of Vismia gracilis is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist in its environment over many years rather than completing its cycle within a single growing season. As a long-lived species, it undergoes a continuous developmental process that moves from seed germination through extended vegetative growth phases, establishing a stable presence within its ecological niche. This perennial nature ensures that the plant can invest significant energy into structural development and reproductive longevity, contributing to the stability of its habitat through its enduring life stages.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Vismia gracilis is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that can reach a maximum plant height of 7 meters. It is a self-supporting organism, functioning as an independent species rather than an obligatory or facultative parasite. In terms of its ecological positioning, the plant is strictly terrestrial, lacking any aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic tendencies such as being a holoepiphyte or hemiepiphyte. Unlike lianas or vines, it does not exhibit climbing behavior, instead maintaining a stable, self-supporting structural integrity throughout its development.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

7 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Vismia gracilis is characterized by a standard C3 photosynthetic pathway, meaning it utilizes the Calvin cycle for carbon fixation without the specialized adaptations found in C4 or CAM plants. In terms of nutrient cycling and metabolic processes, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, as it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into biologically available forms.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Vismia gracilis has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Vismiaquinone.

Vismiaquinone

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Vismia gracilis has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Leishmania infection.

Leishmania infection

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology