Bletilla
Bletilla, commonly known as the fringed orchid, is a resilient perennial prized in traditional medicine. Native to East Asia, its tubers contain glucomannan, a polysaccharide used to treat inflammation, coughs, and skin ailments. This elegant flowering plant offers a unique blend of aesthetic beauty and significant therapeutic potential.
- Scientific name: Bletilla
- Family: Orchidaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asparagales, it is further classified under the family Orchidaceae. Specifically, it is identified by the genus Bletilla.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Asparagales | WCVP |
| Family | Orchidaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Bletilla | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Bletilla, is identified by various common names across different linguistic regions. In Simplified Chinese contexts, it is referred to as 白芨属, which is used in mainland China (zh-cn), Singapore (zh-sg), and general Simplified Chinese usage (zh-hans). In Traditional Chinese contexts, it is known as 白芨屬, a nomenclature used in Hong Kong (zh-hk) and for Traditional Chinese usage (zh-hant).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 白芨属 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 白芨屬 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 白芨屬 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 白芨属 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 白芨属 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 白芨屬 | Wikidata |
| udm | Блетилла | Wikidata |
| ru | блетилла | Wikidata |
| mdf | Блетилла | Wikidata |
| mrj | Блетилла | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is widely distributed across several key regions of East Asia. Within China, its presence is noted in the South-Central, North-Central, and Southeast territories. Furthermore, it can be found growing in the high-altitude regions of Tibet. Beyond the Chinese mainland, its geographical range extends into the islands of Japan. Collectively, these areas define the specific environmental niches where the species thrives.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | China North-Central | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| China | Tibet | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Japan | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Korea | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Nansei-shoto | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Taiwan | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Myanmar | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Vietnam | WCVP |
Chemicals
Bletilla has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include stilbenes.
- Total chemicals
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| stilbenes | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Bletilla has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antibiosis, wound.
- Total uses
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| antibiosis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| wound | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |