Aralia echinocaulis

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

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 Apiales, it is classified under the family Araliaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is within the genus Aralia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily found within specific regions of the East Asian landscape. Its documented presence is concentrated in the South-Central part of China. Additionally, the species can be located throughout the Southeast region of the country. These two areas represent the core extent of its natural geographical range. Consequently, its distribution is localized to these particular Chinese provinces.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Aralia echinocaulis is characterized by a highly specific and specialized altitudinal niche, as it is strictly confined to a singular elevation within its habitat. This species demonstrates an extremely narrow elevational range, occurring exclusively at an altitude of 2600 m AMSL. Because its minimum, mean, and maximum elevation values are all recorded at exactly 2600 m AMSL, the plant lacks altitudinal plasticity and is instead restricted to this precise vertical stratum, suggesting a dependency on the unique microclimatic conditions and environmental variables found only at this specific height.

Elevational range max:

2600 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Aralia echinocaulis is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the individual to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth strategies, the plant exhibits a dual classification within life form typologies; it functions as a phanerophyte, maintaining its buds well above the ground level to survive environmental fluctuations, while it also exhibits traits consistent with a nanophanerophyte, where its woody stems are relatively low in stature.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Aralia echinocaulis is characterized by its significant stature, typically reaching an average plant height of 7 m. It exhibits a tree-like growth form and possesses a distinctly woody structure. As a terrestrial plant, it grows independently in its environment, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. Furthermore, its climbing habit is categorized as self-supporting, allowing it to maintain its upright structure within its habitat.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

7 m

Woodiness :

woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Aralia echinocaulis has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Glycosides, XYLAN.

Glycosides

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

XYLAN

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Activities

Aralia echinocaulis has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antitumor.

Antitumor

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Conditions

Aralia echinocaulis has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include colon cancer, rheumatoid arthritis.

Colon cancer

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Rheumatoid arthritis

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Preparations

Aralia echinocaulis has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include crude drug, total polysaccharide and glycoside (TPG).

Crude drug

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

Total polysaccharide and glycoside (tpg)

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology