fragrant wintersweet

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Japanese-allspice
• wintersweet
• Japanese allspice
• Wax ume

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Meratia praecox var. grandiflora
• Chimonanthus praecox f. grandiflorus
• Beureria praecox
• Chimonanthus parviflorus
• Calycanthus praecox
• Calycanthus suaveolens
• Chimonanthus praecox var. reflexus
• Chimonanthus praecox f. versicolor
• Chimonanthus praecox f. intermedius
• Chimonanthus praecox var. luteus
• Chimonanthus praecox f. luteus
• Meratia praecox
• Meratia yunnanensis
• Meratia fragrans
• Chimonanthus grandiflorus
• Chimonanthus luteus
• Chimonanthus praecox var. concolor
• Chimonanthus praecox var. grandiflorus
• Chimonanthus praecox var. intermedius
• Chimonanthus fragrans
• Chimonanthus fragrans var. grandiflorus
• Chimonanthus caespitosus
• Chimonanthus verus
• Chimonanthus yunnanensis

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 within the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Laurales. Finally, it is a member of the family Calycanthaceae, falling under the genus Chimonantus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Chimonanthus praecox, exhibits a specific range of occurrence across various regions of China. Its presence is documented within the diverse landscapes of China South-Central. Additionally, the species can be found growing in the territories of China North-Central. The botanical distribution further extends into the areas of China Southeast. Together, these regions define the primary geographical footprint of this medicinal species.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Chimonantus praecox is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. Its structural development and survival strategy are defined by its status as a phanerophyte, though it also exhibits traits consistent with a nanophanerophyte, indicating that its stem or woody parts are kept relatively close to the ground. Furthermore, the plant follows a deciduous pattern, shedding its foliage seasonally as part of its natural growth and dormancy cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Chimomanthus praecox is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically functioning as a shrub. This plant reaches a mean height of approximately 4 m and exhibits a self-supporting climbing habit. As an independent organism, it does not function as a parasite, and it maintains a terrestrial life habit rather than being an epiphyte.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

4 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Chimonantus praecox is characterized by distinct foliar morphological variations that reflect its vegetative development and surface area optimization for photosynthesis. The leaves exhibit a significant range in dimensions, with a mean leaf length of 15 cm, though they can vary from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 25 cm. Complementing this longitudinal variability, the leaf width shows a mean of 5 cm, fluctuating between a minimum width of 2 cm and a maximum width of 8 cm. These physiological parameters indicate a flexible growth habit where the expansion of the lamina allows for significant adaptation in light interception and gas exchange processes.

Leaf length max:

25 cm

Leaf length mean:

15 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

8 cm

Leaf width mean:

5 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Chimonantus praecox is characterized by specific morphological dimensions of its floral structures and the resulting seeds. The flowers produced by this species exhibit a variable length, ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 4 cm. Following successful pollination, the plant produces seeds with a notable range in mass; the individual seed mass typically fluctuates between a minimum of 0.1096 g and a maximum of 0.14548 g, maintaining an overall mean seed mass of approximately 0.12754 g.

Flower length max:

4 cm

Flower length min:

2 cm

Seed mass max:

0.14548 g

Seed mass mean:

0.12754 g

Seed mass min:

0.1096 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Chimonanthus praecox has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower, seed.

Flower

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. Food chemistry

Seed

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Chemicals

Chimonanthus praecox has 14 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include COMPOUND 6, Compound 1, Compound 2, Compound 3, Compound 5.

COMPOUND 6

1. Chinese journal of natural medicines

Compound 1

1. Chinese journal of natural medicines

Compound 2

1. Chinese journal of natural medicines

Compound 3

1. Chinese journal of natural medicines

Compound 5

1. Chinese journal of natural medicines

Compound 7

1. Chinese journal of natural medicines

Compound-4

1. Chinese journal of natural medicines

D-CALYCANTHINE

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Linalool

1. Food chemistry

Phenylmethyl acetate

1. Food chemistry

Conditions

Chimonanthus praecox has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include E. coli.

E. coli

1. Chinese journal of natural medicines

Preparations

Chimonanthus praecox has 4 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Chimonanthus teas, MeOH extract of the seeds, ethanol extract, ethanol heat reflux extractions.

Chimonanthus teas

1. Food chemistry

Meoh extract of the seeds

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Ethanol extract

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Ethanol heat reflux extractions

1. Zhongguo xue xi chong bing fang zhi za zhi = Chinese journal of schistosomiasis control