Chinese Redbud

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Chinese Redbud

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cercis chinensis f. alba
• Cercis pubescens
• Cercis pauciflora
• Cercis canadensis var. chinensis
• Cercis chinensis f. rosea
• Cercis japonica
• Cercis chinensis var. pubescens
• Cercis chinensis f. leucantha
• Cercis chinensis f. pubescens

Regional and Traditional Names

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 Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Cercis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical range that extends across several distinct regions of Asia and Europe. In Europe, its presence is noted within the territory of Ukraine. The distribution continues through the Caucasus region, specifically encompassing the Transcaucasus. Within China, the species is widely spread across the North-Central and South-Central provinces. Additionally, its range reaches the northern reaches of the country in Manchuria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cercis chinensis is characterized by its adaptation to managed environments, where it thrives under human-influenced conditions such as urban landscapes, parks, and cultivated gardens. In these settings, the species benefits from stabilized soil conditions and controlled moisture levels, often occupying niches where it serves as an ornamental or functional component of a designed ecosystem. While it can be found in various temperate settings, its presence in managed habitats typically involves regular maintenance that mitigates natural competitive pressures, allowing it to flourish within human-altered landscapes.

Habitat :

managed

Life history

The life history of Cercis chinensis is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to establish long-term presence within its ecosystem through repeated seasonal growth cycles. As a deciduous plant, it undergoes a distinct phenological rhythm where it sheds its foliage annually in response to seasonal changes, typically entering a period of dormancy during the colder months to conserve energy and resources. This cycle of leaf senescence and subsequent regrowth ensures the plant's adaptation to fluctuating environmental conditions over its multi-year lifespan.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cercis chinensis is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree or large shrub, functioning as a self-supporting plant rather than a climber or liana. It is an independent organism that does not exhibit parasitic behavior, nor does it grow as an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. The structure is defined by its robust, woody stems and branches, which provide the necessary support for its upright development in terrestrial habitats.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cercis chinensis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation efficiency. Morphologically, the plant exhibits distinct leaf characteristics, featuring a cordate leaf form with entire margins. Furthermore, the leaf structure is smooth and lacks any defensive physical adaptations, as it possesses no leaf thorns and no leaf spines.

Leaf form :

cordate

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

Reproduction in Cercis chinensis is primarily driven by the production of seeds contained within specialized fruit structures, which exhibit specific morphological variations in mass. The reproductive success of the species is characterized by seeds that possess a mean mass of approximately 0.033203333 g. However, there is notable variability within the seed population, with individual seed masses ranging from a minimum of 0.02283 g to a maximum of 0.048 g. This range in seed mass reflects the natural diversity in resource allocation during the developmental stages of the plant's reproductive cycle.

Seed mass max:

0.048 g

Seed mass mean:

0.033203333 g

Seed mass min:

0.02283 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cercis chinensis has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Experimental & molecular medicine

Chemicals

Cercis chinensis has 12 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include quercetin, (2R)-naringenin, 3-O-Methylquercetin, BETA-SITOSTEROL, Daucosterin.

quercetin

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

(2R)-naringenin

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

3-O-Methylquercetin

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

BETA-SITOSTEROL

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

Daucosterin

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

Friedelin

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

Gallic acid

1. Experimental & molecular medicine

HAEMATOMMIC ACID

1. Experimental & molecular medicine

METHYL GALLATE

1. Experimental & molecular medicine

RUTIN

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

Activities

Cercis chinensis has 4 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Hypoglycemic.

Analgesic

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Antibacterial

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Antioxidant

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Hypoglycemic

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Medicinal Uses

Cercis chinensis has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include analgesic, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, oxidative stress.

Most Reported Uses