Bead Vine

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Bead Vine

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pulassarium sinense
• Alyxia vulgaris
• Alyxia taiwanensis
• Alyxia acutifolia
• Alyxia euonymifolia
• Alyxia kweichowensis
• Alyxia lehtungensis
• Alyxia levinei

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Further taxonomic division places it in the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Gentianales, falling under the family Apocynaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Alyxia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is native to several specific regions across East Asia. Within China, its presence is notably recorded throughout the South-Central territories. It can also be found growing in the tropical environment of Hainan. Furthermore, its distribution extends into the Southeast regions of the Chinese mainland. Finally, the species is documented to inhabit the island of Taiwan.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Alyxia sinensis is characterized by its specific altitudinal preferences within its native habitats. This species is typically found within a distinct elevational range, flourishing at altitudes starting from a minimum of 250 m AMSL. It reaches its maximum recorded elevation at 400 m AMSL, with the species maintaining a mean elevation of approximately 325 m AMSL across its distribution. This narrow vertical distribution suggests that the plant is adapted to specific environmental variables, such as temperature and humidity, that are characteristic of these lower-to-mid-altitude tropical or subtropical zones.

Elevational range max:

400 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

325 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

250 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Alyxia sinecis is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and maintain a stable presence in its natural habitat. As an evergreen species, it maintains its foliage year-round, providing a constant green canopy that does not undergo the seasonal shedding typical of deciduous plants. This continuous leaf retention supports steady photosynthetic activity and contributes to its long-term survival and developmental stability within its ecosystem.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Alyxia sinensis is characterized by a woody growth form that typically manifests as a shrub or a liana. As an obligatory climber, the plant utilizes a vine-like habit to ascend, reaching an average plant height of approximately 3 meters. It functions as an independent organism, meaning it does not act as a parasite, and maintains a terrestrial existence rather than being an epiphyte.

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Alyxia sinensis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, reflecting its metabolic adaptation to its environment. The plant's foliar morphology is defined by elliptic-shaped leaves with entire margins and an absence of both thorns and spines. The leaf dimensions exhibit significant variability, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a mean of 4.5 cm, reaching a maximum of 8 cm, while leaf widths vary from a minimum of 0.8 cm to a maximum of 3 cm, maintaining a mean width of 2.5 cm. Furthermore, the leaf structure is quantitatively described by its Specific Leaf Area (SLA), which shows a mean value of approximately 142.38 cm²/g, fluctuating within a narrow range between a minimum of 140.96 cm²/g and a maximum of 143.79 cm²/g.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

8 cm

Leaf length mean:

4.5 cm

Leaf length min:

1.5 cm

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

3 cm

Leaf width mean:

2.5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.8 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) max:

143.7902862 cm²/g

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

142.375859 cm²/g

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) min:

140.9614318 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Alyxia sinensis is characterized by the production of specific fruit structures that facilitate its life cycle and distribution. The fruits of this species exhibit a relatively consistent size, with a recorded minimum length of 0.9 cm, a mean length of 0.95 cm, and a maximum length reaching up to 1 cm. In terms of seed distribution, the plant follows a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on animals to transport its fruits and seeds to new locations, which plays a critical role in its ecological spread.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit length max:

1 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.95 cm

Fruit length min:

0.9 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Alyxia sinensis 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 stem.

Stem

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

Chemicals

Alyxia sinensis has 19 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Betulin, 20-Nonatriacontanone, BETA-SITOSTEROL, Chrysophanol, Daucosterol.

Betulin

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

20-Nonatriacontanone

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

BETA-SITOSTEROL

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

Chrysophanol

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

Daucosterol

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

Esculin

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

Heptatriacontane

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

Liriodendrin

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

Lupeol

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

OLEANOLIC ACID

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

Activities

Alyxia sinensis has 12 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include AntiHIV, Anticarcinomic, Antifeedant, Antiflu, Antiinflammatory.

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antifeedant

1. Dr. Duke

Antiflu

1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke

Aphidifuge

1. Dr. Duke

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke

Hypolipemic

1. Dr. Duke

Preparations