alligator pear

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Pear Tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Persea leiogyna
• Persea nubigena var. guatemalensis
• Persea gigantea
• Persea nubigena
• Persea floccosa
• Persea gratissima
• Persea praecox
• Persea paucitriplinervia
• Persea gratissima var. macrophylla
• Persea gratissima var. melanocarpa
• Persea gratissima var. oblonga
• Persea americana var. drimyfolia
• Persea americana var. leiogyna
• Persea americana var. nubigena
• Persea gratissima var. praecox
• Persea gratissima var. vulgaris
• Persea americana var. aztec
• Persea americana var. toltec
• Persea americana var. floccosa
• Persea gratissima var. drimyfolia
• Persea americana var. angustifolia
• Persea steyermarkii
• Persea sylvestris
• Persea macrocarpa
• Persea drimyfolia
• Laurus persea

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Persea americana, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified within the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae, falling under the order Laurales. Finally, it is a member of the Lauraceae family within the genus Persea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Persea americana, exhibits a specific geographical distribution across various regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, it can be found growing in Burkina, Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau. Moving into the West-Central Tropical Africa region, its presence extends into the Central African Republic. Additionally, the species is documented within the borders of Cameroon. Collectively, these locations highlight the plant's presence in both West and West-Central tropical environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Persea americana is characterized by its preference for lowland habitats, where it thrives across a broad altitudinal gradient. The species exhibits a significant vertical distribution, with its presence recorded from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 2500 m AMSL. On average, the plant is most commonly situated at a mean elevation of 1200 m AMSL, reflecting its adaptability to various thermal and topographical conditions within its preferred lowland environments.

Elevational range max:

2500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Genetics

The genetics of Persea americana are characterized by a complex karyotype that exhibits significant variation across different cultivars and accessions. The chromosome number is not uniform, with documented instances of 24, 36, and 48 chromosomes occurring within various populations. Despite this numerical diversity, the plant is predominantly characterized by a diploid ploidy level of 2. This genetic framework influences the species' adaptability and phenotypic diversity, playing a crucial role in the inheritance of traits essential for its physiological development and medicinal properties.

Chromosome number :

24, 36, 48

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Persea americana is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist and thrive through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its primary photosynthetic and structural organs are elevated well above the ground surface on woody stems, providing a robust architectural framework. Furthermore, the plant maintains an evergreen habit, ensuring that it retains its foliage throughout the year and remains physiologically active across various seasonal shifts.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Persea americana is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that functions as a self-supporting structure rather than a climber or vine. As a terrestrial organism, it is an independent species that does not exhibit parasitic or epiphytic tendencies, growing directly in soil environments. The plant's stature varies significantly depending on environmental conditions, with a minimum recorded height of 3 m and a maximum height reaching up to 15 m, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 15.397 m. Its robust, woody composition supports its upright, tree-like architecture, ensuring it remains a stable, self-supporting terrestrial entity.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15 m

Plant height mean:

15.3973333333333 m

Plant height min:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Persea americana is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation efficiency. The foliage exhibits significant morphological variability, with leaf lengths typically averaging 14 cm, though they can range from a minimum of 8 cm to a maximum of 30 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width shows a mean of 13 cm, with measurements spanning from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 12 cm. In terms of water storage and tissue structure, the plant does not exhibit succulence, maintaining standard mesophytic leaf characteristics. Furthermore, Persea americana does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external nitrogen availability within the soil to support its physiological development and nutrient requirements.

Leaf length max:

30 cm

Leaf length mean:

14 cm

Leaf length min:

8 cm

Leaf width max:

12 cm

Leaf width mean:

13 cm

Leaf width min:

4 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Persea americana is a complex biological process driven primarily by biotic pollination mechanisms. The flowering period is highly variable, with flowering start times recorded as early as December and occurring throughout the year across months such as January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, and November. The plant produces small flowers, with lengths ranging from 0.5 cm to 0.6 cm, arranged in inflorescences that measure between 0.08 m and 0.14 m in length. Pollination is achieved through biotic syndromes, specifically involving insects and bees. Notably, self-fertilization is absent in this species, necessitating these external vectors for successful fertilization. Following pollination, the plant develops fleshy fruits that vary in size, with a mean length of 11 cm (ranging from 8 cm to 20 cm) and a mean width of 6 cm (up to a maximum of 10 cm). Each fruit typically contains between 1 and 10 seeds. The seeds themselves are substantial, characterized by a mean length, width, and seed width of 25 mm, with lengths reaching up to 100 mm. The seed mass varies from a minimum of 9.945 g to a maximum of 20.67 g, with a mean mass of approximately 15.3075 g, and a consistent seed volume of 65,000 mm³. Dispersal of the seeds occurs via zoochorous and anthropochorous syndromes, meaning they are spread by animals and humans. Asexual reproduction is absent in this species, making sexual reproduction via seeds the primary means of propagation.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower length max:

0.6 cm

Flower length min:

0.5 cm

Flowering time :

Dec

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

20 cm

Fruit length mean:

11 cm

Fruit length min:

8 cm

Fruit width max:

10 cm

Fruit width mean:

6 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.14 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.08 m

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed length max:

100 mm

Seed length mean:

25 mm

Seed mass max:

20.67 g

Seed mass mean:

15.3075 g

Seed mass min:

9.945 g

Seed volume max:

65000 mm³

Seed width mean:

25 mm

Seeds_per_fruit :

1-10

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Persea americana has 6 reported plant parts identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit, seed, root, flower.

Leaf

1. International journal of biomedical science : IJBS
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Journal of environmental science and health. Part C, Environmental carcinogenesis & ecotoxicology reviews
5. Scientific reports

Fruit

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
2. TheScientificWorldJournal
3. International journal of biomedical science : IJBS
4. Parasitology international
5. Journal of environmental science and health. Part C, Environmental carcinogenesis & ecotoxicology reviews

Seed

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
2. Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine
3. Metabolism open
4. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Root

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Scientific reports

Flower

1. Fitoterapia

Stem

1. Scientific reports

Chemicals

Persea americana has 150 reported phytochemicals identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Fatty acids, Saponins, Lutein, Tannins.

Flavonoids

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences
2. TheScientificWorldJournal
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
4. Scientific reports
5. Journal of diabetes and metabolic disorders

Fatty acids

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences
2. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek
3. Scientific reports

Saponins

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Scientific reports
3. Journal of diabetes and metabolic disorders

Lutein

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of diabetes and metabolic disorders

Tannins

1. Scientific reports
2. Journal of diabetes and metabolic disorders

oleic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of diabetes and metabolic disorders

palmitic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

2R,4R-(12Z,15Z)-heneicosa-12,15-diene-1,2,4-triol

1. ACS infectious diseases

ABSCISIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke

ALPHA-CAROTENE

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Persea americana has 634 reported activities identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Analgesic, Antiproliferative, Antiarthritic, Antibacterial.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomolecules
3. Inflammopharmacology
4. Parasitology international
5. Scientific reports

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
3. Fitoterapia

Antiproliferative

1. Biomolecules
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antiarthritic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Inflammopharmacology

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Nigerian journal of biotechnology

Anticonvulsant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports

Antifungal

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

Antihypertensive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Conditions

Persea americana has 43 reported investigations on conditions identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include hypertension, oxidative stress, cancer, inflammation, malaria.

Hypertension

1. Pharmacognosy reviews
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
3. Scientific reports
4. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine
5. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Oxidative stress

1. Biomolecules
2. International journal of biomedical science : IJBS
3. Metabolism open
4. Journal of diabetes and metabolic disorders

Cancer

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Biomolecules
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Inflammation

1. Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine
2. Inflammopharmacology
3. Journal of diabetes and metabolic disorders

Malaria

1. Nigerian journal of biotechnology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Type 2 diabetes

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences
2. International journal of biomedical science : IJBS
3. Nutrients

Staphylococcus aureus

1. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology
2. Protein expression and purification

Bacterial infections

1. African health sciences
2. Nigerian journal of biotechnology

Pain

1. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews
2. Fitoterapia

Tuberculosis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias

Preparations

Persea americana has 20 reported preparations identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include methanol extract, methanolic extracts, AcE, Aqueous extracts, Decoction or infusion.

Methanol extract

1. African health sciences
2. Scientific reports
3. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Methanolic extracts

1. Acta tropica
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ace

1. Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de Sao Paulo

Aqueous extracts

1. Metabolism open

Decoction or infusion

1. Revista de gastroenterologia del Peru : organo oficial de la Sociedad de Gastroenterologia del Peru

Pafe aqueous methanolic extract

1. Parasitology international

Persea americana extract

1. BMC veterinary research

Persea americana fruit extract (pafe)

1. Parasitology international

Acetone extract

1. Scientific reports

Chloroform extracts

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