Dragon-Scale fern

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Dragon-Scale fern

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Drymoglossum rotundifolium
• Lemmaphyllum piloselloides
• Drymoglossum piloselloides
• Pteropsis piloselloides
• Taenitis piloselloides
• Notholaena piloselloides
• Oetosis piloselloides
• Drymoglossum piloselloides var. platycerioides
• Drymoglossum assamense

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Polypodiinae and the order Polypodiales, falling into the family Polypodiaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation is within the genus Pyrrosiia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several key regions in Asia. Within China, it can be found in the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan areas. Its presence extends further east into Japan, which is part of the Eastern Asia region. Additionally, the species is located within the Indian Subcontinent, specifically in Assam. These various locations highlight the diverse environmental range inhabited by Pyrrosiia piloselloides.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Morphology

The morphology of Pyrrosia piloselloides is characterized by its growth form as a herb, exhibiting a non-woody structure throughout its vegetative development. It functions as a self-supporting climber, utilizing its physical structure to navigate its environment without the need for external woody scaffolding. Furthermore, the plant displays a specialized epiphytic lifestyle, specifically categorized as a holoepiphyte, which indicates an obligatory dependence on its host substrate for its life cycle.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

holoepiphyte

Epiphyte :

obligatory

Growth form :

herb

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pyrrosiia piloselloides is characterized by a specialized metabolic framework adapted to its specific environmental niche, most notably through its photosynthetic pathway. This species utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a mechanism where the first stable product of carbon fixation is a three-carbon molecule, typically occurring via the enzyme RuBisCO during the Calvin cycle. This C3 process involves the direct fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide within the mesophyll cells, requiring a continuous supply of moisture to maintain stomatal conductance and facilitate gas exchange. The efficiency of this metabolic route is closely tied to the plant's ability to manage photorespiration and water use efficiency, which are critical physiological constraints for C3 plants in varying light and temperature conditions. Through this fundamental biochemical cycle, the plant manages the conversion of light energy into chemical energy, driving the synthesis of carbohydrates necessary for its growth and structural development.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Pyrrosia piloselloides 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. TheScientificWorldJournal

Chemicals

Pyrrosia piloselloides has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Tannins.

Flavonoids

1. TheScientificWorldJournal

Tannins

1. TheScientificWorldJournal