Pilea cavaleriei

Pilea cavaleriei, commonly known as the Cavalry Pilea, is a captivating ornamental plant prized for its unique, textured foliage. While primarily grown for its aesthetic charm in tropical collections, its genus is often studied for potential medicinal properties, offering a fascinating intersection of botanical beauty and traditional herbal interest.

  • Scientific name: Pilea cavaleriei
  • Family: Urticaceae
  • Native range: Asia-Temperate

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known as Pilea cavaleriei, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae within the order Rosales. Furthermore, it is a member of the family Urticaceae and the genus Pilea.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Rosales WCVP
Family Urticaceae WCVP
Genus Pilea WCVP

Common Names

This plant, known scientifically as Pilea cadvallieri, is referred to by several different common names depending on the linguistic context. In Chinese, it is frequently called 波缘冷水花 (zh), 波缘冷水花 (zh-cn), 波緣冷水花 (zh-tw), and 波缘冷水花 (zh-hans), while it is also identified as 石油菜 (zh) in certain contexts.
Language Common Name Source
zh 波缘冷水花 Wikidata
zh-cn 波缘冷水花 Wikidata
zh-tw 波緣冷水花 Wikidata
zh-hans 波缘冷水花 Wikidata
zh 石油菜 Wikidata
zh 波缘冷水花 Wikidata

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical range spread across several distinct regions. In China, it can be found throughout the South-Central areas of the country. Additionally, its presence extends into the Southeast portions of China. Beyond East Asia, the species is also located within the Indian Subcontinent. Specifically, it inhabits the mountainous terrain of the East Himalaya.

Region Area Source
China China South-Central WCVP
China China Southeast WCVP
Indian Subcontinent East Himalaya WCVP

Plant Parts

This plant, Pilea cadierei (often referred to in various botanical contexts including Pilea cavalieri), is typically utilized in its entirety for medicinal purposes. When preparing decoctions or extracts, the whole plants—including the stems, leaves, and roots—are often employed to capture the full spectrum of its bioactive compounds. By using the whole plants, practitioners ensure that the synergistic effects of the different botanical structures are harnessed to achieve the desired therapeutic outcomes.
Total parts
1
Scientific sources
1
Plant Part Sources Confidence
whole plants 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Chemicals

Pilea cavaleriei has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include trans isomer.

Total chemicals
1
Scientific sources
1

Most Reported Compounds

Compound Sources Confidence
trans isomer 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Medicinal Uses

Pilea cavaleriei has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv.

Total uses
1
Scientific sources
1

Most Reported Uses

Use Sources Confidence
Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv 1 ★☆☆☆☆