kolomikta

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Arctic beauty kiwi
• Manchurian-gooseberry
• hardy kiwi
• hardy kiwifruit
• kishmish
• Kolomicta
• Arctic Beauty

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Actinidia kolomikta var. gagnepainii
• Actinidia tetramera var. maloides
• Actinidia kolomikta var. shihmienensis
• Prunus kolomikta
• Actinidia gagnepainii
• Actinidia maloides
• Actinidia maloides f. cordata
• Actinidia leptophylla
• Trochostigma kolomikta

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

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

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range spanning across several distinct regions. In the Russian Far East, it can be found growing in the Khabarovsk area. Its distribution also extends to the Kuril Islands and the Primorye region within the same territory. Additionally, the species is documented on the island of Sakhalin. Beyond the Russian Far East, its presence is noted as far south as Uzbekistan in Central Asia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Actinidia kolomikta is characterized by its adaptability to diverse montane environments, thriving across a broad altitudinal gradient. It is typically found at elevations ranging from a minimum of 800 m AMSL to a maximum of 2450 m AMSL, with a mean elevation of approximately 1150 m AMSL. This species occupies a variety of specialized niches, including dense forests, mountain terrains, and stony places, demonstrating a preference for habitats that provide adequate moisture and structural complexity. Furthermore, it is frequently observed in disturbed or transitional areas such as burn clearings and cut-over forests, as well as in proximity to rivers, indicating its ability to colonize both stable forest ecosystems and more open, dynamic landscapes.

Elevational range max:

2450 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1150 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

800 m AMSL

Habitat :

burn clearings, cut-over forest, forest, mountains, rivers, stony places

Life history

The life history of Actinidia kolomikta is characterized by a perennial growth cycle typical of woody climbing vines, transitioning through distinct seasonal stages. As a deciduous species, the plant undergoes a dramatic annual transformation where it sheds its foliage in response to colder temperatures, entering a period of dormancy to survive the winter months. During the active growing season, it utilizes its climbing habit to ascend through surrounding vegetation, fueled by a vigorous vegetative development phase. The reproductive cycle involves the emergence of striking, variegated leaves followed by the production of small, inconspicuous flowers that eventually yield fleshy, edible berries. While some related species exhibit variable patterns of foliage retention, Actinidia kolomikta maintains a strictly deciduous habit, ensuring that its metabolic processes are synchronized with the seasonal availability of moisture and light in its natural temperate habitats.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Morphology

The morphology of Actinidia kolomikta is characterized by a woody growth form that functions as a shrubby, facultative climber. This plant exhibits significant vertical variation, with a plant height ranging from a minimum of 1.5 m to a maximum of 10 m. As a woody species, it utilizes its climbing habit to ascend structures or surrounding vegetation, though it possesses the structural capacity to exist as a self-supporting shrub.

Climber :

facultative

Growth form :

shrub

Plant height max:

10 m

Plant height min:

1.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Actinidia kolomikta is characterized by its metabolic efficiency and specialized adaptation to temperate forest environments. Primarily, the plant utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a characteristic typical of most woody climbers in the Vitaceae family, which involves the direct fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide through the enzyme Rubisco within the mesophyll cells. This metabolic framework supports the rapid vegetative growth and the production of nutrient-dense berries, although it requires a consistent supply of moisture to maintain high transpiration rates and optimal stomatal conductance. The plant's physiological vigor is further defined by its unique ability to manage seasonal transitions, transitioning from active carbon assimilation during the growing season to a state of dormancy where metabolic processes are significantly decelerated to withstand freezing temperatures. Furthermore, its physiological processes are closely linked to its specialized floral morphology, where the distinct pigmentation and chemical signaling of the sepals play a role in attracting specific pollinators to facilitate reproductive success.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Actinidia kolomikta is characterized by a specific phenological cycle and distinct morphological traits of its reproductive organs. The flowering period typically commences in June and extends through July. Following pollination, the plant produces fleshy fruits that maintain a consistent length, with a minimum, mean, and maximum measurement all recorded at 2.5 cm. Within these fleshy fruits, the seeds are uniform in size, possessing a minimum, mean, and maximum volume of 7.3 mm³.

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

2.5 cm

Seed volume max:

7.3 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Actinidia kolomikta has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root.

Leaf

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Root

1. Experimental and therapeutic medicine

Chemicals

Actinidia kolomikta has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Actinoside C, Polyphenol, Polysaccharide.

Actinoside C

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Polyphenol

1. Experimental and therapeutic medicine

Polysaccharide

1. Experimental and therapeutic medicine

Activities

Actinidia kolomikta has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antitumor.

Antioxidant

1. Experimental and therapeutic medicine

Antitumor

1. Experimental and therapeutic medicine

Conditions

Actinidia kolomikta has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, postprandial hyperglycemia, type 2 diabetes.

Cancer

1. Experimental and therapeutic medicine

Postprandial hyperglycemia

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Type 2 diabetes

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Preparations

Actinidia kolomikta has 3 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include water extraction-ethanol precipitate (WE-EP) fraction, water extraction-ethanol supernatant (WE-ES) fraction, water extracts from the root.

Water extraction-ethanol precipitate (we-ep) fraction

1. Experimental and therapeutic medicine

Water extraction-ethanol supernatant (we-es) fraction

1. Experimental and therapeutic medicine

Water extracts from the root

1. Experimental and therapeutic medicine