Peruvian pepper

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• False Pepper Tree
• California peppertree
• Peruvian-mastictree
• peppertree
• Californian Pepper Tree
• Mastic Tree
• Pepper Corn Tree
• Pepperina
• Peruvian Mastic Tree
• Pink Peppercorn Tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Sapindales, it is classified under the family Anacardiaceae and the genus Schinus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread presence across several distinct regions of the Mediterranean. In Southwestern Europe, it can be found growing in Portugal and Spain. Its distribution also extends to the island of Sardegna within the same part of the continent. Moving toward Southeastern Europe, the species is established in Greece. Finally, its geographical reach includes the territory of Italy.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Schinus molle is characterized by a broad adaptability to diverse environmental conditions and varied topographic settings. It thrives across a wide elevational gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 3000 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range centered around 600 m AMSL. This species demonstrates significant ecological plasticity, inhabiting several distinct ecosystem types, including anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), Seasonal Semi-deciduous Forest (Floresta Estacional Semi-decidual), Ombrophilous Forest (Floresta Ombrófila, also known as Floresta Pluvial), and Mixed Ombrophilous Forest (Floresta Ombrófila Mista). Such a diverse range of habitats indicates its capacity to persist in both disturbed landscapes and more stable, moisture-rich forest environments.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Floresta Ombrófila Mista

Genetics

The genetics of Schinus molle are characterized by a complex chromosomal structure that reflects its evolutionary history and potential polyploid nature. Specifically, the species exhibits varying chromosome numbers, with recorded data identifying values of 28 and 30. This numerical variation suggests a degree of genomic plasticity or the existence of different cytotypes within the species, which may influence its adaptability to diverse environmental conditions. Such chromosomal diversity is a significant genetic feature that contributes to the plant's robust biological profile and its ability to thrive across varying ecological niches.

Chromosome number :

28, 30

Life history

The life history of Schinus molle is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist and thrive across multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its vital buds are elevated well above the ground, typically forming a robust, tree-like structure that provides a significant architectural presence in its ecosystem. Furthermore, the species maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and present throughout the year rather than shedding seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Schinus molle is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that is entirely self-supporting rather than acting as a climber or a liana. As a terrestrial and independent organism, it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly land-based existence. The plant exhibits a significant stature, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 2 meters to a maximum of 15 meters, maintaining an average height of approximately 8 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15 m

Plant height mean:

8 m

Plant height min:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Schinus molle is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits an alternate leaf arrangement, featuring elliptic-shaped leaves that vary significantly in dimension. These leaves typically range in length from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 7.4 cm, while their width is relatively narrow, maintaining a mean of 0.6 cm, with a minimum width of 0.2 cm and a maximum width of 0.8 cm. Furthermore, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil nutrient availability rather than symbiotic nitrogen fixation to support its physiological development.

Leaf arrangement :

alternate

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

7.4 cm

Leaf length min:

1.5 cm

Leaf width max:

0.8 cm

Leaf width mean:

0.6 cm

Leaf width min:

0.2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Schinus molle is characterized by a dioecious sexual reproduction system, meaning individual plants are either male or female, and self-fertilization is notably absent. The flowering process occurs primarily between March and June, featuring small, white flowers arranged in paniculate inflorescences that can reach a maximum length of 0.2 meters. These individual flowers are quite minute, ranging in length from 0.13 cm to 0.2 cm. The plant relies on biotic pollination syndromes, specifically utilizing insects and bees to facilitate the transfer of pollen. Following successful pollination, the plant produces pink-colored fruits categorized as drupes. These fruits are indehiscent and characterized by a dry texture, with widths ranging from a minimum of 0.3 cm to a maximum of 0.7 cm (averaging 0.7 cm). The resulting seeds are small, with a mean mass of approximately 0.030751667 g (ranging from 0.0175 g to 0.0433 g) and a consistent volume of 31 mm³.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Flower colour :

white

Flower length max:

0.2 cm

Flower length min:

0.13 cm

Flowering time :

Mar

Flowering time :

Jun

Fruit colour :

pink

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit type :

drupe

Fruit width max:

0.5 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.7 cm

Fruit width min:

0.3 cm

Inflorescence :

panicle

Inflorescence length max:

0.2 m

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction sexual :

dioecious

Seed mass max:

0.0433 g

Seed mass mean:

0.030751667 g

Seed mass min:

0.0175 g

Seed volume max:

31 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Schinus molle has 4 reported plant parts identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, seed, fruit, root.

Leaf

1. Natural product research
2. Journal of parasitology research
3. Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)
4. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM
5. BioMed research international

Seed

1. Journal of tropical medicine
2. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Fruit

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Root

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Chemicals

Schinus molle has 44 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include D-Limonene, ALPHA-PINENE, BETA-PHELLANDRENE, BETA-PINENE, Gallic acid.

D-Limonene

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemistry & biodiversity
3. BioMed research international

ALPHA-PINENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research

BETA-PHELLANDRENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. BioMed research international

BETA-PINENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research

Gallic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

MYRCENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Environmental science and pollution research international

(+)-catechin

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

6-epi-Shyobunol

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

ALPHA-PHELLANDRENE

1. BioMed research international

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Schinus molle has 306 reported activities identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Cytotoxic, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor.

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Clinical laboratory

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Acetylcholinergic

1. Dr. Duke

Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Schinus molle has 18 reported investigations on conditions identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include hypertension, Candida albicans, Chagas disease, Hepatocellular carcinoma, Malaria.

Hypertension

1. Bioresource technology
2. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Candida albicans

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chagas disease

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Hepatocellular carcinoma

1. Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)

Malaria

1. Journal of tropical medicine

Streptococcus pneumoniae

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Anemia

1. Journal of tropical medicine

Antidiabetic

1. Talanta

Asthma

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Breast carcinoma

1. Natural product research

Preparations

Schinus molle has 19 reported preparations identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include CH2Cl2, CH2Cl2/MeOH, EO from the leaves, Essential Oil, Schinus molle Extract.

Ch2cl2

1. Heliyon

Ch2cl2/meoh

1. Heliyon

Eo from the leaves

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Essential oil

1. Clinical laboratory

Schinus molle extract

1. Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)

Aqueous extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Crude methanol extract

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Crude methanolic extract of leaves

1. Journal of parasitology research

Extracts

1. BioMed research international

Fractions

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)