Pereskia aculeata

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide-ranging geographical distribution that spans multiple continents and oceanic regions. In Southern Africa, it can be found throughout the Cape Provinces, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Northern Provinces. Its reach extends far beyond the African mainland to the remote island of Ascension in the Middle Atlantic Ocean. Furthermore, the species is documented as growing within China Southeast. This diverse range highlights the plant's ability to inhabit various distinct environmental settings.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pereskia aculeata is characterized by its presence in high-altitude forest environments, specifically within the "Bosque alto" habitat. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, spanning from sea level up to an elevation of 2000 m AMSL. Throughout its natural range, it maintains a mean elevation of approximately 600 m AMSL, demonstrating a notable capacity to adapt to varying topographic gradients within these forest ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Bosque alto

Life history

The life history of Pereskia aculeata is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a stable presence in its environment. Functioning as a phanerophyte, the species develops significant woody structures that elevate its photosynthetic organs above the ground, while it also exhibits characteristics of a nanophanerophyte, reflecting its ability to maintain low-growing, shrubby architectural forms. Throughout its life cycle, the plant maintains an evergreen habit, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and present for photosynthesis across different seasonal shifts rather than shedding leaves annually.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pereskia aculeata is characterized by a woody growth form that functions as both a shrub and a climbing plant. It exhibits a versatile climbing habit, capable of acting as a liana or as a self-supporting structure. The plant's stature is significant, with a minimum height of 3 m, a mean height of 8.25 m, and a maximum height reaching up to 15.23 m. In terms of its ecological positioning, it is a terrestrial species rather than an aquatic or epiphytic one, and it maintains an independent existence as a non-parasitic organism.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15.23 m

Plant height mean:

8.25 m

Plant height min:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pereskia aculeata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and gas exchange mechanisms. Its vegetative structure exhibits significant morphological variation in leaf dimensions, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 7 cm, averaging approximately 5.75 cm. The leaf width shows a similar range of variability, spanning from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 5 cm, with a mean width recorded at 3.25 cm. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nutrient availability to support its physiological development and growth.

Leaf length max:

7 cm

Leaf length mean:

5.75 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf width max:

5 cm

Leaf width mean:

3.25 cm

Leaf width min:

1.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pereskia aculeata is characterized by the development of specialized floral and fruit structures that facilitate its life cycle. The flowering stage features blossoms that vary in size, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 2.5 cm to a maximum of 4 cm. Following successful pollination, the plant produces fleshy fruits that serve as the primary vessel for seed dispersal. These fruits exhibit significant morphological variation, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a mean of 1.5 cm, reaching a maximum length of 2 cm. Within these fleshy fruits, the seeds are contained with a consistent volume; the seed volume is measured at a mean of 35 mm³, which is also its minimum and maximum recorded value, ensuring a standardized seed size of 35 mm³ for propagation.

Flower length max:

4 cm

Flower length min:

2.5 cm

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

2 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.5 cm

Fruit length min:

1 cm

Seed volume max:

35 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Pereskia aculeata has 11 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Ash, CALCIUM, FAT, IRON, PHOSPHORUS.

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

IRON

1. Dr. Duke

PHOSPHORUS

1. Dr. Duke

ascorbic acid

1. Dr. Duke

beta-carotene

1. Dr. Duke

niacin

1. Dr. Duke

riboflavin

1. Dr. Duke

thiamin

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Pereskia aculeata has 207 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Acidulant, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor, Allergenic, Analgesic, Androgenic?.

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic?

1. Dr. Duke

Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

AntiAGE

1. Dr. Duke

AntiCFS

1. Dr. Duke

AntiCTS

1. Dr. Duke

AntiCrohn's

1. Dr. Duke