Witheringia coccoloboides

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Acnistus coccoloboides
• Capsicum fuscoviolaceum
• Witheringia fuscoviolacea
• Brachistus fuscoviolaceus
• Brachistus poasensis

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Solanales and the family Solanaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Witheringia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse range of habitats stretching from North America down through the tropical regions of the south. In Mexico, its presence is specifically noted along the Gulf coast. Moving into Central America, the species can be found inhabiting the landscapes of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panamá. Its distribution further extends into Northern South America, where it is located in Venezuela. Together, these locations highlight a broad geographical footprint across the Neotropical realm.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Witheringia coccoloiboides is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution, allowing it to inhabit diverse montane and submontane environments. This species demonstrates significant ecological plasticity, occupying a vast elevational range that begins from sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends up to high-altitude reaches of 3000 m AMSL. This wide vertical gradient suggests an ability to adapt to varying temperature regimes, atmospheric pressures, and moisture availability, ranging from lowland tropical or subtropical conditions to much cooler, high-elevation habitats. Such a wide distribution pattern typically indicates that the plant can thrive in various forest types and microclimates across its range, utilizing different ecological niches within its topographical span.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Morphology

The morphology of Witheringia coccoloiboides is characterized by a woody growth form that primarily manifests as a shrub or small tree. It is a non-parasitic species, functioning as an independent organism within its ecosystem. While it is not an aquatic plant, its habitat preferences can range across aquatic, semiaquatic, and terrestrial environments, though it is fundamentally classified as a terrestrial species rather than an epiphyte. In terms of its structural habit, it is a self-supporting plant, lacking the climbing or vining tendencies found in lianas or obligate climbers, ensuring a stable and upright development.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Witheringia coccoloiboides is fundamentally characterized by its use of the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a process where carbon fixation occurs directly through the enzyme RuBisCO within the mesophyll cells without the spatial or temporal separation seen in other metabolic strategies. This C3 mechanism implies that the plant undergoes the Calvin cycle as its primary method for converting atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic compounds, which dictates its specific requirements for water availability and temperature regulation. The metabolic efficiency of this pathway suggests that the plant is adapted to environments where transpiration rates and light intensities allow for efficient gas exchange without the specialized anatomical adaptations required for C4 or CAM metabolism. Consequently, its physiological performance, including growth rates and biomass accumulation, is closely tied to its ability to manage photorespiration and maintain moisture levels necessary to support the C3 carbon assimilation process.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Witheringia coccoloiboides is characterized by the production of a berry-type fruit, which is notably indehiscent, meaning it does not spontaneously split open at maturity to release its contents. The fruit maintains a mean width of 1.2 cm, serving as the vessel for its seeds. The seeds themselves are uniform in size, with a recorded minimum, maximum, and mean seed volume of 7.2 mm³. Regarding the movement of offspring, the species exhibits a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on animals to transport the fruit or seeds to new locations, thereby facilitating the plant's colonization and genetic spread.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit type :

berry

Fruit width mean:

1.2 cm

Seed volume max:

7.2 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Witheringia coccoloboides has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 25,26-Epidihydrophysalin C, Physalin B.

25,26-Epidihydrophysalin C

1. Journal of natural products

Physalin B

1. Journal of natural products