Phyllodium pulchellum
Phyllodium pulchellum, commonly known as the "beautiful leaf," is a significant medicinal shrub native to tropical Asia. Renowned for its heart-shaped leaves, it is extensively used in traditional medicine to treat inflammatory conditions, skin ailments, and digestive issues, offering valuable phytochemical properties for diverse therapeutic applications in herbal healing.
- Scientific name: Phyllodium pulchellum
- Family: Fabaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae in the order Fabales, specifically within the family Fabaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Phyllodium.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Phyllodium | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Phyllodium pulchellum, is referred to by various common names depending on the region and language. In Vietnamese, it is called Vảy tê tê đẹp, while in Persian, it is known as فیلودیووم پالچلوم. In Chinese, the names vary slightly by script and region: it is called 排钱树 in Simplified Chinese (zh-cn), 排錢樹 in Traditional Chinese (zh-tw), and is also identified as 排钱树 in Mandarin (zh).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| vi | Vảy tê tê đẹp | Wikidata |
| zh | 排钱树 | Wikidata |
| fa | فیلودیوم پالچلوم | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 排錢樹 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 排钱树 | Wikidata |
| za | Ragdaebcienz | Wikidata |
| zh | 圆叶小槐花 | Wikidata |
| zh | 亚婆钱 | Wikidata |
| zh | 笠碗子树 | Wikidata |
| zh | 龙鳞草 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse distribution pattern across several specific regions in East Asia. In mainland China, it is primarily located within the South-Central and Southeast territories. Additionally, the species can be found growing on the tropical island of Hainan. Its range extends further east to include the Nansei-shoto islands of Eastern Asia. Finally, the geographical footprint of this medicinal species encompasses the island of Taiwan.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Nansei-shoto | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Taiwan | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | East Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Nepal | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known for its significant medicinal properties, is primarily utilized through its aerial parts. The most distinctive feature of Phyllodium pulchellum is its large, broadly ovate leaf, which is characterized by its unique, fan-shaped structure. Because the entire above-ground portion of the plant is often harvested for therapeutic use, the leaf serves as the most important component of the aerial part used in traditional medicine.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aerial part | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Phyllodium pulchellum has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 4-hydroxy-2,3-dimethoxybenzaldehyde, citrusinol, flavonoids, methyl piperitol, phenol.
- Total chemicals
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| 4-hydroxy-2,3-dimethoxybenzaldehyde | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| citrusinol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methyl piperitol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| phenol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| yukovanol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Phyllodium pulchellum has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.
- Total activities
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |