Ardisia brevicaulis

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Bladhia citrifolia
• Ardisia citrifolia
• Ardisia bodinieri

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Ardisia brevicaulis, 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 Primulaceae and falls under the genus Ardisia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across several key regions of East and Southeast Asia. Within China, its presence is noted in the South-Central and Southeast territories, as well as the high-altitude regions of Tibet. Its range extends further east to the island of Taiwan, representing a significant portion of its Eastern Asian footprint. Additionally, the species can be found within the Indo-China region, specifically in Vietnam. Together, these locations highlight a diverse geographical spread across varied ecological landscapes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Ardisia brevicaulis is characterized by its specific distribution across varying altitudinal gradients within its natural habitat. This species typically thrives in montane or sub-montane environments, occupying an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 400 m AMSL. It extends upward through diverse ecological zones, reaching a maximum elevation of 1260 m AMSL. Across its established range, the plant maintains an average elevation of approximately 830 m AMSL, suggesting a preference for mid-altitude forest ecosystems where specific moisture and temperature regimes are maintained.

Elevational range max:

1260 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

830 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

400 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Ardisia brevicaulis is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, meaning it maintains its vegetative structures and remains living for multiple years throughout its existence. As a long-lived species, it does not follow the rapid cycle of annuals or the intermediate rhythm of biennials, but instead establishes a stable presence within its ecological niche. This perennial nature allows the plant to undergo repeated seasonal cycles of growth, flowering, and fruiting, contributing to its long-term persistence in its natural habitat. Through these extended life cycles, the plant can accumulate biomass and reproductive potential over many years, ensuring its continued survival and contribution to the local flora.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ardisia brevicaulis is characterized by its woody structure and specific growth habit. It functions as a shrub, exhibiting a robust, woody constitution that provides structural integrity to its form. While it possesses the characteristics of a shrub, its growth habit can also be described as a self-supporting climber, meaning it possesses the ability to ascend and climb without being strictly obligatory or facultative, instead maintaining its own upright or sprawling posture through its woody development.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

shrub

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiological morphology of Ardisia brevicaulis is characterized by specific foliar dimensions that reflect its vegetative growth patterns. The leaf architecture exhibits significant variability in size, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 7 cm to a maximum of 14 cm, maintaining a mean length of approximately 10.5 cm. Correspondingly, the lateral expansion of the foliage is defined by leaf widths that fluctuate between a minimum of 2.5 cm and a maximum of 4.8 cm. These dimensional parameters indicate a structured leaf development process within its natural habitat, where the variation in surface area contributes to the plant's overall photosynthetic capacity and environmental adaptation.

Leaf length max:

14 cm

Leaf length mean:

10.5 cm

Leaf length min:

7 cm

Leaf width max:

4.8 cm

Leaf width min:

2.5 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Ardisia brevicaulis 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. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Root

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

Chemicals

Ardisia brevicaulis has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CALAMENENE, Caryophyllene, Fitone, Phytol, cis-alpha-Bisabolene.

CALAMENENE

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

Caryophyllene

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

Fitone

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

Phytol

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

cis-alpha-Bisabolene

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

gamma-Muurolene

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

palmitic acid

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

Preparations

Ardisia brevicaulis has 5 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include essential oil from the leaves, essential oil from the roots, leaves essential oil, roots essential oil, volatile oil extracted from the leaves and roots.

Essential oil from the leaves

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

Essential oil from the roots

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

Leaves essential oil

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

Roots essential oil

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

Volatile oil extracted from the leaves and roots

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