Vismia guianensis

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Caopia guianensis
• Caopia reichardtiana
• Caopia acuminata
• Hypericum guianense
• Hypericum cuspidatum
• Hypericum acuminatum
• Vismia reichardtiana
• Vismia reichardtiana var. polymera
• Vismia guianensis var. pulverulenta
• Vismia guianensis var. villosissima
• Vismia humboldtiana
• Vismia latifolia var. acuminata
• Vismia guaramirangae
• Vismia guianensis var. acuminata
• Vismia guianensis var. glabrata
• Vismia guianensis var. goeldiana
• Vismia guianensis var. manaosensis
• Vismia guianensis var. paraensis
• Vismia caparosa
• Vismia cearensis
• Vismia baccifera var. angustifolia
• Vismia acuminata var. caparosa

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

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

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical range concentrated within the tropical regions of the Americas. In the Caribbean, its presence is noted within the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. Moving to Northern South America, it can be found across the vast territories of Guyana and Suriname. The species also extends its distribution into French Guiana. Finally, its habitat reaches into the northern reaches of Venezuela, completing its regional footprint.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Vismia guianenensis is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse and heterogeneous biomes across South American landscapes. This species exhibits a broad distribution, inhabiting a wide range of ecosystems including the Caatinga (strictu sensu), Campinarana, Campo Rupestre, Carrasco, and Cerrado (latu sensu). Furthermore, it is frequently found in various forest types, ranging from Floresta Ciliar or Galeria and Floresta de Terra Firmre to Floresta Estacional Semi-decidual, Floresta Ombrófila (Pluvial), and the coastal ecosystems of Restinga. Despite this wide ecological breadth, the species typically thrives at a relatively low elevation, with a mean elevational range of approximately 100 m AMSL.

Elevational range mean:

100 m AMSL

Habitat :

Caatinga (stricto sensu), Campinarana, Campo Rupestre, Carrasco, Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta de Terra Firme, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Restinga

Life history

The life history of Vismia guianenensis is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, meaning it persists through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its life cycle in a single year. As a long-lived species, it establishes itself within its ecological niche and undergoes continuous developmental stages, transitioning from seedling to a mature adult capable of sustained reproductive efforts over many years. This perennial nature allows the plant to invest significant energy into structural growth and long-term survival, providing it with the resilience necessary to endure fluctuating environmental conditions within its habitat.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Vismia guianenis is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically manifesting as a tree. This species is a self-supporting plant that does not exhibit climbing behavior, such as being a liana or vine, nor does it function as a parasite, maintaining an independent biological status. It is a terrestrial organism, lacking aquatic or semiaquatic adaptations, and does not grow as an epiphyte. In terms of stature, the plant reaches a mean height of approximately 6 meters, though it can achieve a maximum height of up to 10 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

10 m

Plant height mean:

6 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Vismia guianenensis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a reliance on the standard Calvin cycle for carbon fixation. The plant exhibits a mean leaf size of 8.939 cm², which, when coupled with a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 77.382 cm²/g, provides insight into its leaf economics and resource allocation strategies. Its structural integrity is supported by a stem specific density (SSD) averaging 620 mg/cm³, reflecting the density of its woody tissues. Furthermore, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on soil-available nitrogen rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing processes to meet its nutritional requirements.

Leaf size mean:

8.939 cm²

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

77.382 cm²/g

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

620 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Vismia guianenis is characterized by the production of a fruit classified as a berry, which measures approximately 0.8 cm in length and 1 cm in width. These fruits are indehiscent, meaning they do not split open at maturity to release their seeds. The dispersal of the seeds follows a zoochorous syndrome, indicating that the plant relies on animals to facilitate the movement and spread of its offspring.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit length mean:

0.8 cm

Fruit type :

berry

Fruit width mean:

1 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Vismia guianensis 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. Chemistry & biodiversity

Chemicals

Vismia guianensis has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Anthraquinones, Caryophyllene oxide, Humulene epoxide II, Physcion, Vismiaquinone A.

Anthraquinones

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Caryophyllene oxide

1. Medicines (Basel, Switzerland)

Humulene epoxide II

1. Medicines (Basel, Switzerland)

Physcion

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Vismiaquinone A

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Conditions

Vismia guianensis has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Sporothrix schenckii infection, colon cancer, dermatomycoses, leukemia.

Sporothrix schenckii infection

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Colon cancer

1. Fitoterapia

Dermatomycoses

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Leukemia

1. Fitoterapia

Preparations

Vismia guianensis has 3 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include essential oils from leaves, extracts, hexane leaf extract.

Essential oils from leaves

1. Medicines (Basel, Switzerland)

Extracts

1. Die Pharmazie

Hexane leaf extract

1. Chemistry & biodiversity