Piper crocatum

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Steffensia crocata
• Artanthe stupposa
• Piper stupposum
• Artanthe crocata
• Piper crocatum var. gracilescens

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, specifically categorized within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified under the order Piperales and the family Piperaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Piper, within which its specific species name is crocatum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Piper crocatum, exhibits a specific geographical distribution within the Western South American region. Its natural habitat is primarily concentrated in the diverse landscapes of Ecuador. Additionally, the species is found throughout various parts of Peru. These two countries represent the core areas where the plant thrives in the wild. Consequently, its range is relatively localized to these specific western territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Morphology

The morphology of Piper crocatum is characterized by a growth form that primarily manifests as a shrubby herb, displaying a variable degree of woodiness in its stem structure. It functions as a self-supporting climber, exhibiting both obligatory and facultative climbing traits that allow it to navigate its environment, though it remains largely characterized as a self-supporting entity rather than a liana or vine. The plant is strictly terrestrial in its habitat, lacking any aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic tendencies; it is neither a holoepiphyte, hemiepiphyte, nor a facultative epiphyte, but rather maintains a terrestrial existence. Furthermore, it is an independent organism, showing no parasitic behavior, whether obligatory or facultative.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

variable

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Piper crocatum has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Scientific reports

Activities

Piper crocatum has 4 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antifungal, Antinecrotic, Hepatoprotective.

Antioxidant

1. Heliyon
2. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Antifungal

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antinecrotic

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Hepatoprotective

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Conditions

Piper crocatum has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include antioxidant, cirrhosis, dental caries.

Antioxidant

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Cirrhosis

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Dental caries

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)