Pernambuco jaborandi

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Pernambuco jaborandi

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pilocarpus microphyllus var. xinguensis

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida. Following the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Sapindales and the family Rutaceae. Ultimately, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Pilocarpus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution centered within the borders of Brazil. It can be found growing across the expansive territories of the Brazil North region. Additionally, its presence extends into the diverse landscapes of the Brazil Northeast. These two distinct areas represent the primary habitats where the species occurs naturally. Consequently, the plant is characteristic of these specific Brazilian biomes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pilocarpus microphyllus is characterized by its presence in diverse forest ecosystems, demonstrating a broad adaptability to varying moisture and seasonal conditions. It is found across several distinct biomes, including Floresta de Terra Firme, which provides stable, non-flooded soil environments, as well as Floresta Estacional Decidual, where the plant must navigate seasonal fluctuations in water availability and leaf shedding. Furthermore, its distribution extends to Floresta Ombrófila (also known as Floresta Pluvial), indicating an ability to thrive in high-humidity, high-rainfall tropical environments. This wide ecological range suggests that the species can occupy various niches within the forest understory or edges, depending on the specific light and moisture gradients present in these different forest types.

Habitat :

Floresta de Terra Firme, Floresta Estacional Decidual, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Life history

The life history of Pilarcus microphyllus is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle within a single year. Throughout its development, the plant maintains an evergreen habit, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and present year-round without the seasonal shedding typical of deciduous species.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pilocarpus microphyllus is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically classified as a tree. This species exhibits a self-supporting structural habit, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or a climber. In terms of its ecological positioning, it is a terrestrial plant, lacking any epiphytic or aquatic characteristics. The physical dimensions of the plant are notable, with an average height of approximately 5 m, though it can reach a maximum height of up to 7 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

7 m

Plant height mean:

5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pilocarpus microphyllus is characterized by a metabolic profile consistent with many woody shrubs in the Euphorbiaceae family. Regarding its carbon assimilation, the plant utilizes a C3 photosynthetic pathway, meaning it fixes atmospheric carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle using the enzyme RuBisCO, which is typical for plants growing in environments where water loss through transpiration is managed through standard stomatal regulation rather than specialized CAM or C4 mechanisms. Furthermore, in terms of nutrient acquisition and symbiotic relationships, Pilocarpus microphyllus is not a nitrogen fixer, lacking the specialized root nodules or symbiotic associations with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Pilocarpus microphyllus has 15 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include pilocarpine, 2-TRIDECANONE, ALPHA-PINENE, Caryophyllene, DELTA-CADINENE.

pilocarpine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

2-TRIDECANONE

1. Dr. Duke

ALPHA-PINENE

1. Dr. Duke

Caryophyllene

1. Dr. Duke

DELTA-CADINENE

1. Dr. Duke

EO

1. Dr. Duke

Humulene

1. Dr. Duke

LIMONENE

1. Dr. Duke

Pilocarpidine

1. Dr. Duke

Pilosine

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Pilocarpus microphyllus has 110 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include AChE-Inhibitor, Acaricide, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor, Allelochemic, Allergenic.

AChE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Alzheimerigenic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiacetylcholinesterase

1. Dr. Duke

Antiacne

1. Dr. Duke

Antiadenomic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Pilocarpus microphyllus has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Cryptococcus neoformans, glaucoma, xerostomia.

Cryptococcus neoformans

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Glaucoma

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Xerostomia

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)