Fabiana imbricata

Fabiana imbricata · Accepted scientific name

Scientific literature: Very Sparse (22 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆

, scientifically known as Fabiana imbricata, is a remarkable medicinal plant valued for its diverse therapeutic properties. Frequently utilized in traditional healing practices, it offers potent bioactive compounds capable of addressing various ailments. Understanding its botanical characteristics and medicinal applications is essential for exploring its significant potential in modern pharmacology.

Family
Solanaceae
Native range
Southern America
Parts used
Root
Common names
Not available
Scientific synonyms
Fabiana Biflora · Fabiana Araucana · 2 more

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Fabiana imbricata

Synonyms

Regional and Traditional Names

Spanish:

  • Palo piche
  • Pichi romero

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae, the order Solanales, and the family Solanaceae. Finally, the species is identified by the genus Fabiana.

Rank Classification
Kingdom Plantae
Phylum Streptophyta
Class Equisetopsida
Subclass Magnoliidae
Order Solanales
Family Solanaceae
Genus Fabiana

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across the southern regions of South America. Within Argentina, it can be found spanning from the northwest to the southern territories. Its presence also extends significantly through the various latitudes of Chile. Specifically, it inhabits the northern, central, and southern areas of the Chilean landscape. Consequently, the species maintains a broad geographical range throughout these specific southern continental zones.

Region Area
Southern South America Argentina South
Southern South America Argentina Northwest
Southern South America Chile Central
Southern South America Chile North
Southern South America Chile South

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Fabiana imbricata is characterized by its specialized adaptation to high-altitude montane environments, where it thrives within a specific vertical distribution. This species is predominantly found in high-elevation ecosystems, occupying an ecological niche defined by an elevational range that begins at 2600 m AMSL and extends to a maximum of 3200 m AMSL. Within this altitudinal band, the plant is subject to the unique environmental pressures of alpine or sub-alpine zones, including intense solar radiation, fluctuating temperatures, and potentially thin, well-drained soils. Its presence within this strictly defined range suggests a high degree of specialization to the climatic and atmospheric conditions present at these significant heights above mean sea level.

Elevational range max:
3200 m AMSL
Elevational range min:
2600 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Fabiana imbricata is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth habits and ecological positioning, the plant exhibits complex life form traits, categorized both as a phanerophyte, where its buds are elevated on branches above the ground level, and as a nanophanerophyte, reflecting its tendency to maintain relatively short, woody structures.

Life form :
nanophanerophyte
Life form :
phanerophyte
Lifecycle :
perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Fabiana imbricata is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub, exhibiting a robust and self-supporting structure. As an independent organism, it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a primarily terrestrial existence rather than occupying aquatic, semiaquatic, or specialized climbing niches. Its development is defined by a permanent woodiness, allowing it to maintain its stature as a perennial shrub without the need for climbing mechanisms such as lianas or vines.

Aquatic :
terrestrial
Climber :
self-supporting
Epiphyte :
terrestrial
Growth form :
shrub
Parasite :
independent
Woodiness :
woody

Physiology

The physiology of Fabiana imbricata is characterized by a specialized metabolic framework optimized for its specific environmental niches. A fundamental component of its physiological profile is its photosynthetic pathway, which follows the C3 mechanism. In this process, the plant fixes atmospheric carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle, utilizing the enzyme RuBisCO to catalyze the initial carboxylation step, leading to the formation of a three-carbon compound. This C3 photosynthetic pathway dictates the plant's water-use efficiency and gas exchange dynamics, influencing how it manages transpiration and carbon assimilation in response to varying light intensities and moisture availability.

Photosynthetic pathway :
C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Fabiana imbricata is characterized by the production of seeds that exhibit a highly uniform physical profile. Based on quantitative data, the seed mass is extremely consistent across the population, with a mean value of 8e-05 g. This uniformity is further evidenced by the fact that both the maximum and minimum recorded seed masses are identical at 8e-05 g, indicating a lack of significant variance in the weight of the reproductive units produced by the plant.

Seed mass mean:
8e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Fabiana imbricata 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 root.

Plant parts reported in Fabiana imbricata
Plant part Supporting sources Consensus
Root 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Root

  1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Chemicals

Fabiana imbricata has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CA, Coumarins, Flavonoids, RUTIN, Sesquiterpenes.

Chemicals reported in Fabiana imbricata
Chemical Supporting sources Consensus
CA 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Coumarins 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Flavonoids 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
RUTIN 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Sesquiterpenes 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Sugars 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Terpenes 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
scopoletin 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

CA

  1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Coumarins

  1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Flavonoids

  1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

RUTIN

  1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Sesquiterpenes

  1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Sugars

  1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Terpenes

  1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

scopoletin

  1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Conditions

Fabiana imbricata has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include diuretic, gastric ulcers.

Conditions investigated for Fabiana imbricata
Condition Supporting sources Consensus
Diuretic 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Gastric ulcers 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Diuretic

  1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Gastric ulcers

  1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Fabiana imbricata has 9 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aerial parts, biomass, callus, callus cultures, cell suspensions.

Preparations reported for Fabiana imbricata
Preparation Supporting sources Consensus
Aerial parts 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Biomass 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Callus 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Callus cultures 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Cell suspensions 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
In vitro plantlets 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Plantlets regenerated in vitro 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Root cultures 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆
Roots grown by tis 1 supporting sources ★☆☆☆☆

Aerial parts

  1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Biomass

  1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Callus

  1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Callus cultures

  1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Cell suspensions

  1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

In vitro plantlets

  1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Plantlets regenerated in vitro

  1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Root cultures

  1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Roots grown by tis

  1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences