Piper scutatum
Piper scutatum, commonly known as a member of the pepper family, is a medicinal plant valued for its diverse bioactive properties. Found primarily in tropical regions, it is traditionally utilized in various ethnobotanical practices to treat ailments ranging from skin infections to digestive issues, offering significant pharmacological potential.
- Scientific name: Piper scutatum
- Family: Piperaceae
- Native range: Southern America
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered as Piperales and falls under the family Piperaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Piper, specifically as the species Piper scutatum.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Piperales | WCVP |
| Family | Piperaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Piper | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Piper scutatum, is known by various regional names depending on the linguistic context. In English, it is commonly referred to as the Shielded Pepper, while in Latin, its botanical designation serves as its formal identifier. In Swahili, the plant is known as mchicha wa miba, reflecting its local significance in different geographic areas.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|
Distribution
This plant, known scientifically as Piper scutatum, has a very specific and limited geographical range. Its documented occurrence is concentrated within the South American continent. Specifically, the species is found residing in the southeastern regions of Brazil. This localized distribution suggests that the plant thrives under the particular environmental conditions found in that area. Consequently, researchers focusing on this species primarily direct their field studies toward the Brazilian Southeast.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | Brazil Southeast | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Piper scutatum, is primarily utilized in traditional medicinal practices for the therapeutic properties found within its leaves. These leaves serve as the main part of the plant used for decoctions or topical applications, often valued for their specific bioactive compounds that contribute to its healing potential.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Piper scutatum has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antifungal.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antifungal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |