Chloranthus henryi

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Chloranthus hupehensis
• Chloranthus philippinensis
• Chloranthus serratus var. taiwanensis
• Chloranthus verticillatus
• Chloranthus henryi var. hupehensis

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Chloranthus henryi, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae within the order Chloranthales. Finally, it is a member of the family Chloranthaceae and falls under the genus Chloranthus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily found within the diverse landscapes of China. Specifically, its presence is documented across China South-Central and China North-Central regions. It also flourishes in the tropical environments of Hainan and the lush areas of China Southeast. Furthermore, its geographical range extends to the island of Taiwan in Eastern Asia. Together, these locations highlight the plant's significant distribution throughout the East Asian territory.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Chloranthus henryi is defined by its specific distribution within montane environments, where it occupies a distinct altitudinal niche. This species is typically found across a significant vertical gradient, ranging from a minimum elevation of 750 m AMSL to a maximum of 1900 m AMSL. On average, the plant flourishes at a mean elevation of approximately 1325 m AMSL, suggesting a preference for mid-to-high altitude ecosystems. Such an elevation range indicates that its habitat is characterized by the temperate or subtropical mountain climates typical of these zones, where it likely interacts with specific moisture regimes and soil compositions found within these highland strata.

Elevational range max:

1900 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1325 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

750 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Chloranthus henryi is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, meaning it maintains its vegetative structures and continues to live through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle in a single year. As a perennial herb, it establishes a persistent presence in its natural habitat, often relying on underground rhizomes or sturdy root systems to survive dormant periods between active growth phases. This long-lived life strategy allows the species to accumulate energy over several years, facilitating consistent flowering and seed production cycles that are adapted to its specific ecological niche.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

Morphologically, Chloranthus henryi is characterized as a non-woody herb that maintains a self-supporting growth habit rather than acting as a climber, liana, or vine. It functions as an independent organism, neither behaving as a parasite nor an epiphyte, and is strictly terrestrial in its habitat. The plant typically reaches a mean height of 0.525 m, with individual specimens ranging from a minimum height of 0.4 m to a maximum height of 0.65 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.65 m

Plant height mean:

0.525 m

Plant height min:

0.4 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiological profile of Chloranthus henryi is characterized by a distinct morphological pattern in its foliage, which plays a critical role in its metabolic and photosynthetic processes. The leaves exhibit a significant range of dimensions, with the leaf length typically averaging 13.5 cm, though it can vary from a minimum of 9 cm to a maximum of 18 cm. Complementing this longitudinal variation is a measured leaf width that fluctuates between a minimum of 5 cm and a maximum of 9 cm, maintaining a mean width of approximately 7 cm. These structural parameters suggest a specialized surface area optimization for light interception within its natural habitat, allowing the plant to regulate gas exchange and water transpiration effectively through its varying leaf dimensions.

Leaf length max:

18 cm

Leaf length mean:

13.5 cm

Leaf length min:

9 cm

Leaf width max:

9 cm

Leaf width mean:

7 cm

Leaf width min:

5 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Chloranthus henryi is characterized by the development of small fruits and extremely lightweight seeds. The fruits produced by this species are highly uniform in size, maintaining a consistent length of 0.3 cm, with both the minimum, mean, and maximum recorded values remaining at this exact measurement. Accompanying the fruit development is the production of minute seeds that exhibit no variation in weight; the seed mass is recorded at a constant 0.001346 g, a value that represents the minimum, mean, and maximum mass for the species. This uniformity in both fruit dimensions and seed mass suggests a highly stabilized reproductive output for the plant.

Fruit length max:

0.3 cm

Seed mass mean:

0.001346 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Chloranthus henryi has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. Phytochemistry
2. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Chemicals

Chloranthus henryi has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include BETA-SITOSTEROL, Curcolonol, Daucosterin, Skimmin, Zedoarofuran.

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Curcolonol

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Daucosterin

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Skimmin

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Zedoarofuran

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

shizukanolide E

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Conditions

Chloranthus henryi has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include colon cancer, hepatoma.

Colon cancer

1. Phytochemistry

Hepatoma

1. Phytochemistry

Preparations

Chloranthus henryi has 2 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanol extract of the roots, roots.

Ethanol extract of the roots

1. Phytochemistry

Roots

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica