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Heisteria: A Genus of Tropical Flowering Plants

Heisteria is a genus of plants belonging to the family Olacaceae. These flowering plants can be found across various tropical regions.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Heisteria
• Family: Olacaceae
• Major Group: Angiosperms (Flowering plants)
• Placement Notes: Heisteria is placed under Olacaceae by APG III, The Plant List, and Tropicos, but under Erythropalaceae by AP, GRIN, and NCBI.
• Synonyms:
  • For Heisteria acuminata: Heisteria longipes Standl.
  • Heisteria silvianii Schwacke.
  • Heisteria perianthomega

Common Names

• Heisteria silvianii: Brinco-de-mulata, Casca-de-tatu, Casco-de-tatu, Estrela-vermelha, Gumbijova, Pau-de-mico, Rapadura, Umari.
• Muraltia heisteria: Boeldokdoring, Kastybos, Persdoringbos, Spiky Purplegorse, Voltjie-Kan-Nie-Sit-Nie.

Distribution and Habitat

• Species within Heisteria are found in various locations:
  • Heisteria pallida: Brazil, Amazon basin
  • Heisteria cyathiformis and Heisteria asplundii: Endemic to Ecuador, specifically its coastal lowlands (Esmeraldas province).
  • Heisteria maguirei: Brazil, Guyana, and Venezuela.

Morphological Characteristics

• Some species, like Heisteria parvifolia, are shrubs or small trees with oil-producing seeds.
• One species is described as a Liana, sometimes (sub)scandent shrub, to 18 m tall, with slender flexuous branches. Branchlets very slender, subterete, slightly striate lengthwise, not rugulose.

Traditional Uses

• The wood of Heisteria parvifolia is used for construction, poles, piles, carpentry, palisades, and tool handles. Its stems and wood are flexible.

Chemical Composition

• The stem bark of H. pallida contains ateacatechin.
• trans- and cis-3,4,5-trimethoxycinnamoyl derivatives can be found in the roots of Muraltia heisteria.
• New acetylenes have been isolated from the bark of Heisteria acuminata.

Ecological Role

• Heisteria cyathiformis is considered endangered because it grows in areas that have been converted to other land uses.

Considerations for Gardens

• Muraltia heisteria is suggested for gardens, for its color, texture, and charm.

References and Resources

• Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture
• ARKive (for photos and facts)
• Discover Life (for biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution information)
• Biodiversity Heritage Library: http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/98681
• World Plants
• Tropicos
• The Plant List
• EOL (Encyclopedia of Life)
• iNaturalist.org