Chinese ground orchid

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Hyacinth Orchid
• Chinese ground orchid
• bletilla
• hardy orchid
• hyacinth bletilla

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Gyas humilis
• Cymbidium hyacinthinum
• Polytoma inodora
• Bletia hyacinthina var. gebina
• Jimensia nervosa
• Bletilla gebina
• Limodorum striatum
• Calanthe gebina
• Jimensia striata
• Bletilla elegantula
• Limodorum hyacinthinum
• Bletia striata
• Cymbidium striatum
• Bletia hyacinthina
• Coelogyne elegantula
• Bletia gebina
• Bletilla striata var. albomarginata
• Bletilla striata f. gebina
• Bletilla striata var. gebina
• Epidendrum striatum
• Sobralia bletioides
• Bletia hyacinthina var. liukiuensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Bletilla striata, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Asparagales. Finally, it is a member of the Orchidaceae family and is situated within the genus Bletilla.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several key regions of East Asia. In China, its presence is documented throughout the South-Central, North-Central, and Southeast provinces. Its range extends beyond the mainland into the island nation of Japan. Additionally, the species can be found growing within the Korean Peninsula. Together, these locations highlight a widespread habitat within the eastern temperate zones.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Bletilla striata is characterized by its presence in specific montane habitats, where it occupies a distinct altitudinal niche. This species is typically found within an elevational range spanning from a minimum of 1400 m AMSL to a maximum of 2600 m AMSL. Within this vertical distribution, the plant thrives in environments shaped by the climatic conditions of mid-to-high altitude zones, often favoring moist, well-drained soils and dappled light typical of forest understories or woodland margins. Its survival is closely linked to these specific elevation levels, which dictate the temperature gradients and moisture availability essential for its growth cycle and reproductive success.

Elevational range max:

2600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1400 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Bletilla striata is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a cryptophyte, specifically classified as a geophyte, meaning that its vital regenerative organs are located underground to survive unfavorable seasonal conditions. This survival strategy enables the plant to maintain stability and re-emerge periodically from its subterranean structures.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Bletilla striata is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically categorized as a forb. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies, nor does it function as an epiphyte. The plant is entirely independent in its nutrient acquisition, lacking any parasitic qualities. In terms of its structural habit, it is a self-supporting organism rather than a climber, liana, or vine, maintaining an upright posture without the need for external support.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Bletilla striata has 5 reported plant parts identified across 16 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, rhizome, leaf, seed, stem.

Root

1. BMC plant biology
2. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
3. Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology
4. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
5. Genes

Rhizome

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. Journal of nanobiotechnology
3. Carbohydrate polymers
4. Phytochemistry
5. Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology

Leaf

1. BMC plant biology
2. Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology
3. Genes

Seed

1. PloS one

Stem

1. Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology

Chemicals

Bletilla striata has 79 reported phytochemicals identified across 16 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Polysaccharide, glucose, Glucomannan, STARCH, ABA.

Polysaccharide

1. BMC plant biology
2. Biotechnology letters
3. BioMed research international
4. International journal of biological macromolecules
5. Carbohydrate polymers

glucose

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
2. International journal of biological macromolecules
3. Biomedical chromatography : BMC
4. Frontiers in immunology

Glucomannan

1. Dr. Duke
2. Carbohydrate polymers
3. International journal of biological macromolecules

STARCH

1. Dr. Duke
2. Genes
3. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

ABA

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Militarine

1. Chemical research in toxicology
2. PloS one

Phenanthrenes

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

mannose

1. International journal of biological macromolecules
2. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

2B

1. Frontiers in chemistry

3'-O-Methylbatatasin III

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Bletilla striata has 166 reported activities identified across 16 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Neuroprotective, Antifibrotic, Analgesic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
3. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
4. International journal of biological macromolecules
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in chemistry
3. Phytochemistry
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Fitoterapia

Neuroprotective

1. Frontiers in chemistry
2. Fitoterapia
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Phytochemistry

Antifibrotic

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC plant biology
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of biological macromolecules

Antimicrobial

1. International journal of biological macromolecules
2. Phytochemistry

Antiviral

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Absorbent

1. Dr. Duke

Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Bletilla striata has 46 reported medicinal uses identified across 16 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include wound healing, inflammation, ulcers, antioxidant, burns.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations