Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Clade: Tracheophytes → Angiosperms → Eudicots → Rosids
- Order: Malpighiales
- Family: Goupiaceae (formerly classified within Celastraceae)
- Genus: Goupia Aubl.
- Species: Goupia glabra Aubl.
Description
Goupia glabra is a medium‑to‑large evergreen tree reaching heights of 20–30 m, occasionally up to 40 m. The trunk is straight, cylindrical, and may attain a diameter of 1 m or more. Leaves are simple, alternate, and leathery, with an elliptic to oblong shape, measuring 8–20 cm in length. The leaf margin is entire, and the venation is pinnate.
The species produces small, inconspicuous greenish flowers arranged in axillary or terminal inflorescences. Flowers are monoecious, possessing both male and female structures. Fruit is a fleshy drupe, typically 1–2 cm in diameter, turning from green to yellow‑brown upon maturity. The seed is enclosed within a thin endocarp.
Distribution and Habitat
Goupia glabra is native to the tropical lowland rainforests of northern South America. Its range includes:
- French Guiana
- Suriname
- Guyana
- Northern Brazil (particularly the Amazon basin)
- Eastern Venezuela
The species thrives in well‑drained, humid soils of primary and secondary evergreen forests, often at elevations from sea level up to 500 m. It is commonly found in mixed stands with other canopy species and tolerates periodic flooding in riparian zones.
Ecology
- Reproduction: Birds and small mammals consume the drupes and act as dispersal agents for the seeds.
- Growth: Goupia glabra exhibits moderate growth rates, with seedlings establishing under the shaded understory before attaining the canopy.
- Associations: The tree contributes to forest structure and provides habitat for epiphytes and insects.
Economic and Ethnobotanical Uses
- Timber: The wood is light to medium density, straight‑grained, and relatively easy to work. It is used locally for construction, furniture, flooring, and veneer.
- Traditional Medicine: Indigenous and local communities have reported medicinal uses of bark extracts for treating febrile conditions and skin ailments; however, systematic pharmacological validation is limited.
- Other Uses: The leaves and stems have occasionally been employed as firewood.
Conservation Status
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has not assessed Goupia glabra as a separate species; consequently, it is not listed on the Red List. Habitat loss due to logging and conversion of forested land for agriculture may impact regional populations, but the species remains relatively widespread within its native range.
References
- Aublet, J. (1775). Histoire des plantes de la Guiane Françoise. Paris.
- Stevens, P. F. (2001 onwards). Angiosperm Phylogeny Website. Version 14, July 2017. Cambridge University Botanic Garden.
- Grandtner, M. M. (2013). Dictionary of Trees, Volume 2: South America. Academic Press.
All information presented is based on established botanical literature and reputable taxonomic databases.
