Chinese Pyrola

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Chinese Pyrola

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pyrola rotundifolia subsp. chinensis
• Pyrola rotundifolia var. chinensis
• Pyrola rotundifolia var. communis
• Pyrola rotundifolia var. sphaeroides
• Pyrola rotundifolia var. tibetana
• Pyrola andresii
• Pyrola hopeiensis
• Pyrola rockii
• Pyrola calliantha var. tibetana
• Pyrola rotundifolia subsp. tibetana
• Pyrola rotundifolia var. laurifolia

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

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 under Ericales and falls into the family Ericaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is within the genus Pyrola.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across various regions of China. It is commonly found throughout the China South-Central and China North-Central territories. Additionally, its presence extends into the high-altitude landscapes of Qinghai and Tibet. The species also inhabits the lush environments of China Southeast. Together, these locations define the diverse natural range of Pyrola calliantha.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pyrola calliantha is characterized by its presence across a broad altitudinal gradient, allowing it to inhabit diverse montane and subalpine environments. It is typically found at a mean elevation of approximately 2400 m AMSL, though its ecological niche extends from relatively low-lying areas starting at 700 m AMSL to high-altitude zones reaching up to a maximum of 4100 m AMSL. This wide elevational range suggests an adaptability to varying temperature regimes and atmospheric pressures, enabling the species to colonize various mountain habitats ranging from temperate montane forests to more extreme alpine ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

4100 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2400 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

700 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Pyro la calliantha is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. Throughout its existence, it maintains an evergreen habit, retaining its foliage rather than shedding it seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pyrola calliantha is characterized by its growth form as a woody subshrub, exhibiting a self-supporting structural habit rather than acting as a climber. The plant maintains a relatively low stature, with heights typically ranging from a minimum of 0.15 m to a maximum of 0.3 m, resulting in a mean plant height of approximately 0.225 m.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

shrub

Growth form :

subshrub

Plant height max:

0.3 m

Plant height mean:

0.225 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pyrola callianthea is closely linked to its leaf morphology, which serves as a primary site for metabolic activity and gas exchange. The leaves exhibit a specific range of dimensions that reflect the plant's growth patterns and resource allocation strategies. Specifically, the leaf length varies from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 5.2 cm, with a recorded mean length of 4.1 cm. Complementing this longitudinal development is the leaf width, which ranges from a minimum of 2.2 cm to a maximum of 3.5 cm. These morphological parameters suggest a specialized surface area optimized for photosynthetic efficiency within its ecological niche, supporting the plant's overall physiological demands through regulated light absorption and transpiration rates.

Leaf length max:

5.2 cm

Leaf length mean:

4.1 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf width max:

3.5 cm

Leaf width min:

2.2 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pyrola calliantha is characterized by its specific inflorescence and fruit morphology. The plant produces an inflorescence that varies in length, typically ranging from a minimum of 0.12 m to a maximum of 0.16 m. Following pollination, the development of the fruit is marked by consistent dimensions, where the fruit length ranges from a minimum of 0.75 cm to a maximum of 0.9 cm, maintaining an average length of 0.825 cm. Similarly, the fruit width shows a narrow range of variation, spanning from a minimum of 0.75 cm to a maximum of 0.9 cm, with an average width of 0.825 cm, indicating a nearly spherical or symmetric fruit structure.

Fruit length max:

0.9 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.825 cm

Fruit length min:

0.75 cm

Fruit width max:

0.9 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.825 cm

Fruit width min:

0.75 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.16 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.12 m

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Pyrola calliantha has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Terpenoids.

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Terpenoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Pyrola calliantha has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antipyretic.

Antipyretic

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Medicinal Uses

Pyrola calliantha has 9 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include bleeding, cervical spondylosis, coronary heart disease, cough, hypertension.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations