Icing Grass

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Icing Grass
• Pepper-elder
• Water Grass
• Clearweed
• Man to man
• Pepper elder
• Shining bush plant

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Micropiper pellucidum
• Piper pellucidum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Piperales, it is classified under the family Piperaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Peperomia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across several countries located within West Tropical Africa. It can be found growing in the nation of Benin. Furthermore, its range extends into the territories of Burkina Faso and Ghana. The species is also documented to exist within Guinea-Bissau. Finally, the geographical presence of this medicinal plant includes the country of Guinea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Peperomia pellucida is characterized by its presence across a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to elevations of 3500 m AMSL. It thrives within diverse forest ecosystems, demonstrating significant ecological plasticity by colonizing various environments such as riparian forests (Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria), terra firme forests (Floresta de Terra Firme), semi-deciduous seasonal forests (Floresta Estacional Semidecidual), and ombrophilous or rainforest environments (Floresta Ombrófila).

Elevational range max:

3500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta de Terra Firme, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Genetics

The genetics of Peperomia pellucida are characterized by a notable degree of chromosomal variation and polyploidy, which contributes to its adaptive capacity. Research into its karyotype reveals a complex cytogenetic profile, with documented chromosome numbers including 20, 24, 44, 46, and 48. This diversity in chromosome counts suggests that the species may undergo various mechanisms of genome doubling or chromosomal rearrangements, allowing it to thrive in diverse ecological niches. Such genetic plasticity is often linked to the plant's ability to maintain physiological stability and medicinal efficacy across different environmental conditions.

Chromosome number :

20, 24, 44, 46, 48

Life history

The life history of Peperomia pellucida is characterized by its classification as an annual plant, meaning it completes its entire biological cycle from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, the species follows a life strategy where the majority of the plant's life is spent in the form of seeds, which remain dormant until favorable environmental conditions trigger germination. This life form allows the plant to rapidly colonize moist, shaded habitats, utilizing its ephemeral growth to exploit temporary niches before the onset of unfavorable conditions. Its physiological structure is optimized for this rapid, transient existence, facilitating quick maturation and prolific seed dispersal to ensure the continuity of its lineage.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Peperomia pellucida is characterized by a non-woody growth form, functioning as a succulent herb and specifically a forb. It is a terrestrial plant that lives independently, lacking any parasitic behavior, and it does not exhibit epiphytic tendencies. The plant is self-supporting rather than acting as a liana or vine. In terms of stature, it is a relatively small species with a plant height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.15 m to a maximum of 0.45 m, with an average height of approximately 0.2 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.45 m

Plant height mean:

0.2 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Peperomia pellucida is characterized by its C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation efficiency. The plant's vegetative structure features succulent, translucent leaves that vary in size, with a leaf length ranging from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 4 cm. These leaves exhibit a corresponding width variability, spanning from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 3.3 cm. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the availability of nitrogen within the soil medium rather than through symbiotic biological nitrogen fixation.

Leaf length max:

4 cm

Leaf length min:

1.5 cm

Leaf width max:

3.3 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

Reproduction in Peperomia pellucidum occurs primarily through the production of tiny, inconspicuous flowers arranged in dense, spike-like racemes that emerge from the leaf axils. These flowers are typically unisexual and undergo pollination to develop minute, drupe-like fruits. The fruit length is extremely small, characterized by a value of 0.05 cm, which reflects the plant's strategy of producing a vast quantity of microscopic seeds to maximize dispersal potential. In addition to sexual reproduction via these seeds, the plant frequently employs asexual reproduction through vegetative propagation; its succulent, fleshy stems can easily take root when in contact with moist soil, allowing the plant to spread rapidly and colonize new areas through clonal growth.

Fruit length max:

0.05 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Peperomia pellucida 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 leaf.

Leaf

1. Acta medica Iranica

Chemicals

Peperomia pellucida has 11 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Dillapiole, 2,4,5-Trimethoxystyrene, 9-octadecenoic acid, Flavonoids, Isoswertisin.

Dillapiole

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Bioorganic chemistry

2,4,5-Trimethoxystyrene

1. Bioorganic chemistry

9-octadecenoic acid

1. Bioorganic chemistry

Flavonoids

1. Parasitology research

Isoswertisin

1. Journal of natural products

Peperomin E

1. Journal of natural products

Pheophorbide a methyl ester

1. Bioorganic chemistry

peperomin A

1. Journal of natural products

peperomin B

1. Journal of natural products

peperomin C

1. Journal of natural products

Conditions

Peperomia pellucida has 9 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Aeromonas hydrophila, Loa loa, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Streptococcus iniae.

Aeromonas hydrophila

1. Current microbiology

Loa loa

1. Parasitology research

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

1. Current microbiology

Pseudomonas fluorescens

1. Current microbiology

Streptococcus iniae

1. Current microbiology

Bone regeneration

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fracture healing

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Measles

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Periodontitis

1. Biochemistry and biophysics reports

Preparations

Peperomia pellucida has 11 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Ethanol extract, PP-EO, Pepper Elder extract, crude methanolic extracts, ethanol extract of a whole P. pellucida plant.

Ethanol extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Pp-eo

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Pepper elder extract

1. Biochemistry and biophysics reports

Crude methanolic extracts

1. Fitoterapia

Ethanol extract of a whole p. pellucida plant

1. Natural product research

Ethanol extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Extractions

1. Journal of environmental radioactivity

Infusions

1. Journal of environmental radioactivity

Leaf extract

1. Acta medica Iranica

Methanolic extracts

1. Parasitology research