Pyrola japonica

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pyrola rotundifolia var. albiflora
• Pyrola coreana
• Pyrola rotundifolia var. japonica
• Pyrola incarnata var. japonica
• Pyrola asarifolia var. japonica
• Pyrola japonica f. viridicalyx

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Pyrola japonica, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Ericales and the family Ericaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Pyrola.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is found across several specific regions within the Russian Far East. Its distribution includes the Khabarovsk territory and the islands of the Kuril chain. Additionally, it can be located within the Primorye region of Russia. Moving into China, the species inhabits the areas of Inner Mongolia and Manchuria. Therefore, its range spans across diverse landscapes in both northern China and the Russian Far East.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pyrola japonica is closely tied to its specific altitudinal distribution within montane and subalpine ecosystems. This species thrives across a defined vertical gradient, typically found at elevations ranging from a minimum of 800 m AMSL to a maximum of 2000 m AMSL. The ecological niche of the plant is most frequently centered around a mean elevation of 1400 m AMSL, suggesting an optimal habitat preference within these mid-to-high altitude zones. Such environmental positioning often dictates the specific soil moisture, temperature regimes, and light availability that characterize its natural growing environments.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1400 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

800 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Pyrola japonica is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to establish long-term presence within its ecological niche. Throughout its developmental stages, the plant maintains an evergreen nature, retaining its foliage across different seasons rather than shedding it annually. This combination of a perennial lifecycle and evergreen habit enables the species to sustain continuous metabolic processes and structural integrity over multiple years, contributing to its stability in its natural habitat.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pyrola japonica is characterized by a low-growing growth form that functions as both a shrub and a subshrub. This plant exhibits woody characteristics and is strictly self-supporting rather than being a climber. In terms of stature, it maintains a relatively diminutive height, with measurements ranging from a minimum of 0.15 m to a maximum of 0.3 m, resulting in an average 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 japonica is characterized by distinct morphological dimensions of its foliage, which play a crucial role in its metabolic and photosynthetic processes. The leaves exhibit significant variability in size, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 6 cm, maintaining a mean leaf length of approximately 4.5 cm. Complementing these longitudinal variations, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 2.5 cm and a maximum of 4.5 cm. These specific leaf dimensions contribute to the plant's overall surface area, influencing its capacity for gas exchange and light absorption within its natural habitat.

Leaf length max:

6 cm

Leaf length mean:

4.5 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf width max:

4.5 cm

Leaf width min:

2.5 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pyrola japonica culminates in the development of its characteristic fruit, which exhibits specific morphological dimensions. The fruit is characterized by a relatively uniform shape, with its dimensions typically ranging from a minimum of 0.6 cm in both length and width to a maximum of 0.7 cm in both length and width. On average, the fruit maintains a consistent size, with a mean length of 0.65 cm and a mean width of 0.65 cm, indicating a highly standardized structure during the maturation process.

Fruit length max:

0.7 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.65 cm

Fruit length min:

0.6 cm

Fruit width max:

0.7 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.65 cm

Fruit width min:

0.6 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Pyrola japonica 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 root.

Root

1. Archives of pharmacal research

Chemicals

Pyrola japonica has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 5,8-dihydrochimaphilin.

5,8-dihydrochimaphilin

1. Archives of pharmacal research

Preparations

Pyrola japonica has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethyl acetate soluble fraction.

Ethyl acetate soluble fraction

1. Archives of pharmacal research