Wilbrandia verticillata

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Wilbrandia drastica
• Wilbrandia longibracteata
• Wilbrandia riedelii
• Wilbrandia fluminensis
• Wilbrandia scabra
• Anguria aculeolata
• Anguria gaudichaudiana
• Anguria meyeniana
• Rhynchocarpa glomerata
• Momordica verticillata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

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 ordered as Cucurbitales and placed in the family Cucurbitaceae. Finally, it is identified under the genus Wilbrandia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several regions of South America. In Brazil, its presence is documented across the West-Central, Northeast, Southeast, and South regions. Beyond the borders of Brazil, it can also be found in the southern portion of the continent. Specifically, its range extends into the country of Paraguay. Together, these locations highlight the plant's ability to inhabit diverse environments throughout the southern part of the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Wilbrandia verticillata is characterized by its adaptation to humid tropical environments, specifically within the Floresta Ombrófila (also known as Floresta Pluvial), where it thrives under the moisture-rich conditions of the rainforest. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, occupying various ecological niches from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1000 m AMSL. This wide elevational range allows the plant to inhabit diverse microclimates within the lowland and montane rainforest strata, ranging from 0 to 1000 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Life history

The life history of Wilbrandia verticillata is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. Depending on specific environmental conditions and resource availability, its life cycle can exhibit variability, sometimes displaying patterns consistent with annual or biennial growth stages. This flexibility in its developmental timeline enables the plant to adapt to fluctuating ecological stressors, ensuring long-term survival and reproductive success within its native habitat.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Wilbrandia verticillata is characterized by a non-woody structure that facilitates its growth patterns across diverse environments. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies, nor does it function as an epiphyte in either a holoepiphytic or hemiepiphytic capacity. The plant is an independent organism, lacking any obligatory or facultative parasitic relationships with other flora. Furthermore, its growth habit is self-supporting rather than acting as a climbing vine or liana, as it does not possess the obligatory or facultative climbing mechanisms typical of vining species.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Wilbrandia verticillata 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 rhizome.

Rhizome

1. Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz

Chemicals

Wilbrandia verticillata has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include WV1, WV2.

WV1

1. Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz

WV2

1. Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz

Activities

Wilbrandia verticillata has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic.

Cytotoxic

1. Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz

Preparations