hardy kiwi

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• hardy kiwi
• baby kiwi
• baby kiwifruit
• bower actinidia
• hardy kiwifruit
• vine-pear

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Actinidia rufa var. arguta
• Trochostigma argutum
• Actinidia callosa var. arguta

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Actinidia arguta, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae within the order Ericales. Finally, it is a member of the family Actinidiaceae and the genus Actinidia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide and diverse geographical distribution spanning several distinct regions. In Middle Europe, its presence can be specifically noted within Austria. Moving toward the east, it is found across various parts of the Russian Far East, including the Kuril Islands, Sakhalin, and Primorye. Additionally, the species extends its range into Central Asia, where it grows in Uzbekistan. Together, these locations highlight the plant's ability to inhabit varied environments across the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Actinidia arguata is characterized by its preference for specific montane environments, primarily thriving within forest ecosystems and mountainous terrains. This species demonstrates a significant adaptive capacity to varying altitudes, occupying an expansive vertical niche that spans from a minimum elevation of 150 m AMSL to a maximum elevation of 2800 m AMSL. This broad elevational range allows the plant to inhabit diverse microclimates within mountain ranges, ranging from lower montane forest layers to higher, more temperate altitudes.

Elevational range max:

2800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

150 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, mountains

Life history

The life history of Actinidia arguta is characterized by its nature as a perennial species, allowing it to establish long-term presence within its ecological niche through multiple growing seasons. As a deciduous plant, it undergoes a distinct seasonal cycle where it sheds its foliage annually in response to changing environmental conditions, typically entering a period of dormancy during the colder months. This cyclical pattern of leaf senescence and subsequent regrowth defines its vegetative strategy, ensuring the plant can conserve resources during unfavorable periods before resuming active growth and development in the spring.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Actinidia arguta is characterized by a woody growth habit, functioning as a climbing vine or liana. It is an obligatory climber that relies on external support to ascend, rather than being self-supporting. While its growth form can be described as shrub-like in certain contexts, it primarily develops as a vigorous woody vine capable of reaching a maximum plant height of 25 m. The species is a terrestrial plant, existing neither as an aquatic nor a semiaquatic organism, and it maintains an independent life cycle, functioning neither as a parasite nor as an epiphyte.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

25 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Actinidia arguta is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes and energy production. Its vegetative structure features distinct leaf morphology, specifically exhibiting a cordate leaf form. The margins of these leaves are consistently toothed, providing a characteristic serrated edge. Furthermore, the plant lacks defensive integumentary structures on its foliage, as it possesses no leaf thorns and no leaf spines.

Leaf form :

cordate

Leaf margin :

toothed

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Actinidia arguata is characterized by a specific flowering phenology and the production of fleshy fruits containing small seeds. The flowering period typically commences in June and concludes in July, following a variable seasonal cycle. Once pollinated, the plant develops fleshy fruits that generally range in length from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 3 cm, with an average fruit length of 2.5 cm. Within these fruits, the seeds exhibit consistent physical dimensions, featuring a mean seed volume of 2.7 mm³, with individual seed volumes ranging from a minimum of 2.3 mm³ to a maximum of 3.1 mm³. The mass of the seeds is similarly fine, with a mean seed mass of 0.00163 g, falling within a narrow range between 0.0015 g and 0.00179 g.

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

3 cm

Fruit length mean:

2.5 cm

Fruit length min:

2 cm

Seed mass max:

0.00179 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00163 g

Seed mass min:

0.0015 g

Seed volume max:

3.1 mm³

Seed volume mean:

2.7 mm³

Seed volume min:

2.3 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Actinidia arguta has 4 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include stem, fruit, leaf, root.

Stem

1. Planta medica
2. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

Fruit

1. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

Leaf

1. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

Root

1. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

Chemicals

Actinidia arguta has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (+)-catechin, (-)-Epicatechin.

(+)-catechin

1. Planta medica
2. Toxicology

(-)-Epicatechin

1. Planta medica

Activities

Actinidia arguta has 1 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.

Antioxidant

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

Conditions

Actinidia arguta has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Preparations

Actinidia arguta has 1 reported preparations identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts from Actinidia arguta by n-butyl alcohol.

Extracts from actinidia arguta by n-butyl alcohol

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