Pfaffia glomerata

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Mogiphanes dunaliana
• Mogiphanes glauca
• Pfaffia iresinoides var. luzuliflora
• Pfaffia luzuliflora var. elliptica
• Pfaffia luzuliflora f. virgata
• Pfaffia iresinoides var. angustifolia
• Pfaffia vana
• Pfaffia stenophylla var. foliosa
• Pfaffia luzuliflora f. gracilis
• Iresine glomerata
• Pfaffia luzuliflora subsp. squarrosa
• Pfaffia luzuliflora
• Pfaffia glauca
• Pfaffia glomerata var. squarrosa
• Pfaffia glabrescens
• Pfaffia dunaliana
• Pfaffia divergens
• Alternanthera glauca
• Pfaffia fiebrigii
• Pfaffia stenophylla
• Pfaffia luzuliflora var. colombiana
• Pfaffia luzuliflora var. paniculata
• Pfaffia luzuliflora var. microcephala
• Pfaffia stenophylla var. basilignosa
• Sertuernera glauca
• Sertuernera luzuliflora
• Gomphrena luzuliflora
• Gomphrena glauca
• Gomphrena stenophylla
• Gomphrena dunaliana

Regional and Traditional Names

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 a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Caryophyllales, falling under the family Amaranthaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Pfaffia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across the diverse landscapes of Northern South America. Specifically, it can be found growing within the territories of French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname. Its presence extends further into the region through the country of Venezuela. Additionally, the species reaches into Western South America, where it is documented in Bolivia. This broad range highlights the plant's ability to thrive in various tropical environments across the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pfaffia glomerata is characterized by its presence in specific moisture-rich environments, specifically thriving within Floresta Ciliar (riparian forests) or Galerias (gallery forests). These habitats provide the necessary humidity and shade required for its development. In terms of altitudinal distribution, the species occupies a broad vertical gradient, ranging from sea level at 0 m AMSL up to a maximum elevation of 1000 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria

Life history

The life history of Pfaffia glomerata is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its growth habit and ecological strategy, the species is categorized as a chamaephyte, a life form where the permanent buds are located close to the soil surface, often protected by leaf litter or minimal substrate. This specific life form, consistent across its structural classifications as both a chamaephyte and a chamaphyte, dictates its ability to endure varying environmental conditions by maintaining its regenerative capacity near the ground level.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pfaffia glomerata is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, exhibiting a structural habit that is primarily terrestrial rather than aquatic or semiaquatic. Although it possesses climbing tendencies, it functions as a self-supporting liana or vine rather than an obligatory climber, maintaining its own structure without the need for external hosts. As an independent organism, it does not exhibit parasitic behavior, nor does it function as an epiphyte, remaining strictly terrestrial in its ecological positioning. Its overall architecture is consistent with a herbaceous habit, lacking significant woodiness in its stem development.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Pfaffia glomerata has 2 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI

Root

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia

Chemicals

Pfaffia glomerata has 38 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 20E, STARCH, sucrose, 20-HYDROXYECDYSONE, LEAD.

20E

1. Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology
2. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
3. Protoplasma

STARCH

1. Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology
2. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
3. Protoplasma

sucrose

1. Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology
2. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
3. Protoplasma

20-HYDROXYECDYSONE

1. Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology
2. Protoplasma

LEAD

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
2. Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology

Superoxide dismutase

1. Environmental science and pollution research international
2. Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology

20-E

1. Protoplasma

ANTHOCYANIN

1. Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology

Anthocyanins

1. Protoplasma

Anthraquinones

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Pfaffia glomerata has 9 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Adaptogen, Analgesic, Antidepressant, Antidiabetic, Antioxidant.

Adaptogen

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Analgesic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antidepressant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antidiabetic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aphrodisiac

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Gastroprotective

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Prebiotic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Tonic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Pfaffia glomerata has 12 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include oxidative stress, analgesic, antidepressant, antidiabetic, antioxidant.

Oxidative stress

1. Environmental science and pollution research international
2. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia

Analgesic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antidepressant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antidiabetic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aphrodisiac

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aphrodisiacs

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chromosomal aberrations

1. Genetics and molecular research : GMR

Cutaneous leishmaniasis

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Leishmaniasis

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Preparations

Pfaffia glomerata has 5 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Hydroalcoholic extract, hydroalcoholic extract (HE), hydroalcoholic root extract, plant extracts, tetraploid hydroalcoholic extract.

Hydroalcoholic extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hydroalcoholic extract (he)

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hydroalcoholic root extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Plant extracts

1. Genetics and molecular research : GMR

Tetraploid hydroalcoholic extract

1. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia