Pointed Quassia (Quassia cuspidata)

Silhouette: T. Michael Keesey / License

Quassia cuspidata - Botanical Characteristics and Overview

Inhabiting the lush, wet understory of the Amazon basin, Quassia cuspidata displays highly specialized leaf morphology that aids in water runoff. This species plays an ecological role in maintaining the diversity of tropical rain forests.

Botanists value this species for its morphological adaptations to high-humidity forest floors. It remains an important subject in taxonomic studies of neotropical flora.

Taxonomy

  • ∟ царство Plantae
  • ∟ division Tracheophytes
  • ∟ subdivision Spermatophytes (Seed plants)
  • ∟ Angiosperms
  • ∟ mesangiosperms
  • ∟ eudicots
  • ∟ Superrosids
  • ∟ rosids
  • ∟ malvids
  • ∟ order Sapindales
  • ∟ family Simaroubaceae (Quassia family)
  • ∟ genus Quassia (Quassia Wood)
  • ∟ species Quassia cuspidata (Pointed Quassia)

Living Pulse

Powered by iNaturalist

Morphology

This small tree or shrub is named for its cuspidate leaves, which taper abruptly into a sharp, elongated point at the apex. This drip tip adaptation helps shed water rapidly during heavy tropical downpours.

Notable botanical features include:

  • Leaves: Glabrous leaflets with a distinct drip tip or cuspidate apex.
  • Flowers: Small, greenish-white blossoms arranged in delicate, elongated inflorescences.
  • Wood: Contains bitter quassinoids in its bark and wood, a characteristic feature of the genus.

Interesting facts

The species name cuspidata directly refers to the sharp, pointed tips of its leaflets. This morphologic feature is a classic example of a drip tip, which prevents water from pooling on the leaf surface and causing fungal growth in the humid rainforest environment.

Geography of distribution

  • Brazil
  • Colombia
  • Peru

Sources

  • POWO: Plants of the World Online (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew)
  • GBIF: Global Biodiversity Information Facility
  • WFO: World Flora Online
  • IPNI: International Plant Names Index

Technical Information

External Databases: GBIF, POWO, Tropicos

Смотрите также

Indian Quassia

Indian Quassia

Quassia indica

An evergreen mangrove and riverbank tree of tropical Asia and Africa, valued for its medicinal …

Read more →