Pieris formosa
Pieris formosa, commonly known as Andromeda or Lily-of-the-Valley shrub, is a striking evergreen ornamental. While celebrated for its cascading white flowers and vibrant foliage, it contains grayanotoxins. These toxic compounds necessitate cautious handling, as ingestion can lead to significant physiological effects, marking it as both beautiful and dangerous.
- Scientific name: Pieris formosa
- Family: Ericaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Ericales and the family Ericaceae, it is classified under the genus Pieris. Specifically, Pieris formosa represents a distinct species within this taxonomic hierarchy.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Ericales | WCVP |
| Family | Ericaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Pieris | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Pieris formosa, is referred to by various common names depending on the language. In Russian, it is called Пиерис красивый, while in Bulgarian, it is known as красив пиерис. In Chinese, the plant is identified as 美丽马醉木 (zh) and 美丽马醉木 (zh-cn), whereas in Traditional Chinese characters used in Taiwan, it is written as 美麗馬醉木 (zh-tw).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ru | Пиерис красивый | Wikidata |
| zh | 美丽马醉木 | Wikidata |
| bg | красив пиерис | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 美丽马醉木 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 美麗馬醉木 | Wikidata |
| ne | लेक अङ्गेरी | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 美丽马醉木 | Wikidata |
| ru | Пиерис китайский | Wikidata |
| ru | Пиерис гималайский | Wikidata |
| ru | Andromeda formosa | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several key regions in Asia. Within China, it can be found spanning the South-Central, North-Central, and Southeast territories. Its range also extends into the high-altitude areas of Tibet. Furthermore, the species is located within the Indian Subcontinent, specifically in the Assam region. Together, these locations highlight the diverse habitats where Pieris formosa thrives.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | China North-Central | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| China | Tibet | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | East Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Nepal | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Myanmar | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Vietnam | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known as Pieris formosa, possesses various components that are characteristic of its botanical structure. The roots serve as the foundational anchoring system, absorbing essential nutrients and water from the soil to support its growth. Meanwhile, the leaves are prominent features of the plant, often displaying a glossy texture and specific shapes that are vital for photosynthesis and the production of its secondary metabolites.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Pieris formosa has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include pierisoid B, secorhodomollolide A, secorhodomollolide B, secorhodomollolide C, triterpenoids.
- Total chemicals
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pierisoid B | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| secorhodomollolide A | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| secorhodomollolide B | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| secorhodomollolide C | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| triterpenoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Pieris formosa has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Pieris formosa has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include analgesic.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |