Bretschneidera sinensis

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Bretschneidera yunshanensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Brassicales and the family Akaniaceae. It is further identified by the genus Bretschneidera.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several key regions in Asia. In China, it can be found throughout the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan areas. Its presence also extends to the island of Taiwan within Eastern Asia. Additionally, the species reaches into the Indian Subcontinent, specifically within the East Himalaya region. Together, these locations define its diverse natural habitat.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Bretschneidera sinensis is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its natural habitat over many successive growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated branches well above the ground level, ensuring its survival through varying seasonal conditions. This phanerophyte life form is further categorized by its structural development, which supports a robust and long-lived growth habit essential for its role within its ecological niche.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Bretschneidera sinensis is characterized by a robust, woody growth form, specifically classified as a tree. As a self-supporting organism, it does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, nor does it exhibit parasitic or epiphytic behavior, maintaining an independent and terrestrial existence. The plant reaches significant dimensions, with its height typically ranging from a minimum of 10 meters to a maximum of 20 meters, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 15 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Plant height mean:

15 m

Plant height min:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Bretschneidera sinensis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency under typical environmental conditions. The plant's vegetative development is reflected in its foliar morphology, where leaf dimensions exhibit significant variability. The leaves typically possess a mean length of 16 cm, though they can range in size from a minimum of 6 cm to a maximum length of 26 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width varies from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 9 cm, providing a functional surface area optimized for light interception and gas exchange consistent with its C3 metabolic framework.

Leaf length max:

26 cm

Leaf length mean:

16 cm

Leaf length min:

6 cm

Leaf width max:

9 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Bretschneidera sinensis involves the development of inflorescences that typically range in length from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 0.36 m. Following successful pollination, the plant produces fruits that exhibit significant variation in size, with lengths measuring as short as 3 cm and reaching up to a maximum of 5 cm, resulting in an average fruit length of approximately 4 cm.

Fruit length max:

5 cm

Fruit length mean:

4 cm

Fruit length min:

3 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.36 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.2 m

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Bretschneidera sinensis has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include BRETSCHNEIDERAZINE A.

BRETSCHNEIDERAZINE A

1. Journal of natural products