Microglossa pyrifolia

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pluchea subumbellata
• Conyza heudelotii
• Conyza pyrifolia
• Conyza syringifolia
• Microglossa petiolaris
• Microglossa volubilis
• Erigeron pyrifolius
• Frivaldia volubilis
• Psiadia volubilis

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Microglossa pyrifolia, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered under Asterales and placed in the family Asteraceae. Its taxonomic identity is further defined by its classification within the genus Microglossa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern concentrated within the West Tropical Africa region. Its presence is documented across several distinct nations, including Benin and Ghana. Furthermore, the species can be found inhabiting the landscapes of Guinea-Bissau and Guinea. The geographical range also extends into the territory of the Ivory Coast. Collectively, these locations define the primary environmental zones where the species thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Microglossa pyrifolia is defined by its specific altitudinal distribution within its native habitat. This species thrives across a diverse vertical gradient, occupying various ecological niches from lower montane zones to higher elevations. Its presence is recorded starting from a minimum elevation of 400 m AMSL, extending upward to a maximum limit of 1800 m AMSL. The species demonstrates a preference for mid-range altitudes, with a mean elevational range centered at approximately 1100 m AMSL, suggesting that its optimal environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity, and soil composition, are most consistently met within this specific altitudinal belt.

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1100 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

400 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Microglossa pyrifolia is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural development and growth habit, it exhibits a complex life form profile, functioning as both a phanerophyte and a nanophanerophyte. This dual classification indicates that while the plant can maintain visible shoot systems above the ground, its primary reproductive and vegetative structures are often maintained at a very low stature, close to the soil surface, ensuring its survival and persistence within its specific ecological niche.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Microglossa pyrifolia is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub that functions as a self-supporting, independent organism rather than a parasite or climber. This terrestrial plant exhibits a significant variation in stature, with heights ranging from a minimum of 0.7 m to a maximum of approximately 3.05 m, maintaining an average plant height of 2.05 m. As a non-epiphytic, terrestrial species, it establishes itself firmly in the soil, demonstrating a robust, woody structure consistent with its shrubby habit.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3.048037064 m

Plant height mean:

2.05 m

Plant height min:

0.7 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiological development of the foliage in Microglossa pyrifolia is characterized by specific morphological dimensions that define its photosynthetic surface area. The leaf length exhibits significant variability, with a mean measurement of 7.5 cm, ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 10 cm. Complementing this longitudinal growth, the leaf width follows a distinct distribution, maintaining a mean width of 3.25 cm, while fluctuating between a minimum of 2.5 cm and a maximum of 4 cm. These precise dimensional parameters reflect the plant's structural adaptation and its capacity for biomass accumulation through regulated leaf expansion.

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length mean:

7.5 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

4 cm

Leaf width mean:

3.25 cm

Leaf width min:

2.5 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Microglossa pyrifolia is characterized by the production of exceptionally small reproductive structures and a specialized dispersal strategy. The plant produces fruits that are consistently minute, maintaining a uniform length with a mean, minimum, and maximum measurement of 0.1 cm. Accompanying these fruits are seeds of extremely low mass, with a consistent mean, minimum, and maximum weight of 0.00036 g. Regarding its dispersal mechanisms, the species utilizes an anemochorous syndrome, indicating that its seeds are primarily dispersed by wind currents to facilitate colonization of new areas.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Fruit length max:

0.1 cm

Seed mass mean:

0.00036 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Microglossa pyrifolia has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Food chemistry
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Microglossa pyrifolia has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Compound 1, Germacrene D.

Compound 1

1. Planta medica

Germacrene D

1. Food chemistry

Activities

Microglossa pyrifolia has 5 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticonvulsant, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective, Hepatotoxic.

Anticonvulsant

1. Epilepsy & behavior : E&B

Antimicrobial

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antioxidant

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Hepatoprotective

1. Food chemistry

Hepatotoxic

1. Experimental and toxicologic pathology : official journal of the Gesellschaft fur Toxikologische Pathologie

Conditions

Microglossa pyrifolia has 11 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, anxiety, convulsions, epilepsy.

Malaria

1. Malaria journal
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Plasmodium falciparum

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Anxiety

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Convulsions

1. Epilepsy & behavior : E&B

Epilepsy

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Fever

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Insomnia

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Skin diseases

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Snakebite envenomation

1. Tropical medicine and health

Snakebites

1. Journal of toxicology

Preparations

Microglossa pyrifolia has 6 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Petroleum spirit, chloroform, essential oils obtained from leaves, ethanol, leaf extract.

Petroleum spirit

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Chloroform

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Essential oils obtained from leaves

1. Food chemistry

Ethanol

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Leaf extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Methanolic extracts

1. Food chemistry