devil-pepper

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• devil-pepper
• four-leaf devil-pepper
• milkbush

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Rauvolfia canescens var. glabra
• Rauvolfia canescens var. intermedia
• Rauvolfia heterophylla
• Rauvolfia canescens var. tomentosa
• Rauvolfia hirsuta
• Rauvolfia odontophora
• Rauvolfia heterophylla var. puberula
• Rauvolfia hirsuta var. glabra
• Rauvolfia latifolia var. minor
• Rauvolfia subpubescens
• Rauvolfia tomentosa

Regional and Traditional Names

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. Following the subclass Magnoliidae, it is further categorized under the order Gentianales and the family Apocynaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Rauvolfia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide distribution across several key regions in Asia. In China, it can be found throughout the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan areas. Its range extends further east to include the island of Taiwan within Eastern Asia. Additionally, the species is present in the Indian Subcontinent, specifically in the Assam region. Collectively, these locations highlight the plant's preference for diverse subtropical environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Rauvolfia tetraphyllia is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution, allowing it to thrive across diverse topographical gradients. This species is found spanning an elevational range from 0 m AMSL to a maximum of 1200 m AMSL. This wide vertical extent suggests a high degree of ecological plasticity, enabling the plant to inhabit various environmental conditions ranging from lowland tropical settings to mid-elevation montane habitats. Such a range implies that the species can tolerate fluctuations in temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure, making it a resilient component of the forest ecosystems within its native geographical limits.

Elevational range max:

1200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Rauvolfia tetraphylla is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth habits and ecological positioning, the species exhibits characteristics of both phanerophytes and nanophanerophytes. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its stem or shoot system above the ground, facilitating significant upward growth, while its classification as a nanophanerophyte indicates that its branches typically remain relatively low to the ground, usually not exceeding a few decimeters in height.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Rauvolfia tetraphylla is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically manifesting as a shrub. This plant typically reaches a mean height of approximately 1 m. It is a terrestrial species, meaning it is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte, and it functions as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies. In terms of its structural habit, it is classified as a self-supporting plant rather than a climber, liana, or vine.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Rauvolfia tetraphylla is characterized by a complex metabolic framework centered on the biosynthesis of indole alkaloids, which are produced through specialized enzymatic pathways within its tissues. As a non-nitrogen-fixing plant, it does not possess the biological machinery or symbiotic relationships required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms; therefore, its nitrogen fixation status is categorized as no. Instead, the plant relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system to satisfy its nutritional requirements for protein synthesis and secondary metabolite production. Its metabolic processes involve efficient photosynthetic activity to drive carbon fixation, supporting the energetic demands of both primary growth and the intensive secondary metabolism required to synthesize bioactive compounds. The regulation of its physiological functions is closely tied to environmental factors such as soil nutrient availability and light intensity, which influence its overall growth rate and the concentration of its alkaloids.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Rauvolfia tetraphylla is characterized by the production of fleshy fruits categorized as berries. These fruits are indehiscent, meaning they do not split open at maturity to release their contents. The berries typically exhibit an average length of 0.73 cm and an average width of 0.84 cm. The seeds contained within these fruits are relatively small, with a recorded mean seed mass of 0.01867 g; specifically, the data indicates a consistent seed mass where both the minimum and maximum values are measured at 0.01634 g. The plant employs a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on animals to aid in the spread of its seeds, which is consistent with the nature of its fleshy, berry-type fruit.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit length mean:

0.73 cm

Fruit type :

berry

Fruit width mean:

0.84 cm

Seed mass max:

0.01634 g

Seed mass mean:

0.01867 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Rauvolfia tetraphylla has 24 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ajmaline, Reserpiline, Sarpagine, Serpentine, reserpine.

ajmaline

1. Dr. Duke
2. Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England)
3. Phytochemistry

Reserpiline

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemistry

Sarpagine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemistry

Serpentine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemistry

reserpine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England)

ALSTONINE

1. Dr. Duke

Ajmalicine

1. Dr. Duke

Aricine

1. Dr. Duke

DESERPIDINE

1. Dr. Duke

ISORAUNESCINE

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Rauvolfia tetraphylla has 67 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include (-)-Chronotropic, Abortifacient, Adrenergic-Blocker, Adrenolytic, Allergenic.

(-)-Chronotropic

1. Dr. Duke

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Adrenergic-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

Adrenolytic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Amebicide

1. Dr. Duke

Anesthetic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiRaynaud's

1. Dr. Duke

Antiadrenergic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiaggregant

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Rauvolfia tetraphylla has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include SARS-CoV-2, hypertension.

Sars-cov-2

1. Cell biochemistry and biophysics

Hypertension

1. Phytochemistry

Preparations

Rauvolfia tetraphylla has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include methanolic extract, synseeds.

Methanolic extract

1. Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England)

Synseeds

1. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology