Chloranthus multistachys

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Chloranthales, it is situated in the family Chloranthaceae. Its specific taxonomic identification is completed by its placement in the genus Chloranthus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is native to several distinct regions within China. Its geographical presence is widely documented across the South-Central provinces of the country. Additionally, it can be found growing in the tropical environment of Hainan. The species also extends its range into the North-Central parts of China. Finally, it is distributed throughout the Southeast region, showing a broad domestic coverage.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Chloranthus multistachys is closely tied to its specific altitudinal preferences within montane or subtropical forest ecosystems. This species thrives across a diverse vertical gradient, occupying a broad elevational range that begins at a minimum of 400 m AMSL. It can ascend to higher mountainous terrain, reaching a maximum elevation of 1650 m AMSL, which suggests an adaptability to varying temperature regimes and atmospheric pressures. On average, the plant is most frequently situated at a mean elevation of 1025 m AMSL, indicating that its optimal ecological niche is centered within mid-altitude forest zones where moisture and light conditions are most favorable for its growth and development.

Elevational range max:

1650 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1025 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

400 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Chloranthus multistachys is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, meaning it persists through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its life cycle in a single year. As a perennial herb, it maintains a continuous presence in its native habitat, often developing robust rhizomatous structures that allow it to survive dormant periods and regrow annually. This long-lived lifecycle enables the plant to establish a stable presence within forest understories, where it can undergo repeated cycles of vegetative growth and reproductive flowering. Throughout its lifespan, the plant undergoes seasonal shifts in metabolic activity, transitioning between active foliage production and reproductive phases to ensure long-term survival and genetic dispersal.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Chloranthus multistachys is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. It functions as a self-supporting plant rather than a climber, maintaining a consistent herbaceous structure. In terms of stature, the plant is relatively low-growing, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.16 m to a maximum of 0.5 m, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 0.33 m.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

herb

Plant height max:

0.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.33 m

Plant height min:

0.16 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiological development of Chloranthus multistachys is characterized by significant morphological variability in its foliage, which serves as the primary site for photosynthetic activity. The leaf dimensions exhibit a wide range of plasticity, with leaf lengths typically averaging 15 cm, though they can fluctuate between a minimum of 10 cm and reach a maximum of 20 cm. Complementing this longitudinal variation is a substantial lateral expansion, as indicated by leaf widths that range from a minimum of 6 cm to a maximum of 11 cm, with a mean width observed at approximately 8.5 cm. This structural diversity in leaf surface area suggests an adaptive physiological capacity to optimize light interception and gas exchange within its specific ecological niche.

Leaf length max:

20 cm

Leaf length mean:

15 cm

Leaf length min:

10 cm

Leaf width max:

11 cm

Leaf width mean:

8.5 cm

Leaf width min:

6 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Chloranthus multistachys culminates in the development of small, specialized fruits that exhibit consistent morphological dimensions. These fruits are characterized by a relatively uniform shape, as evidenced by their nearly equal length and width measurements. Morphological data indicates that the fruit length ranges from a minimum of 0.25 cm to a maximum of 0.3 cm, with a calculated mean length of 0.275 cm. Similarly, the fruit width follows a nearly identical pattern, varying from a minimum of 0.25 cm to a maximum of 0.3 cm, maintaining a mean width of 0.275 cm. This symmetry in dimensions suggests a compact, globose or subglobose fruit structure essential to its reproductive cycle.

Fruit length max:

0.3 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.275 cm

Fruit length min:

0.25 cm

Fruit width max:

0.3 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.275 cm

Fruit width min:

0.25 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Chloranthus multistachys has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include BETA-SITOSTEROL, Cycloeucalenol, Daphnin, Lupeol, STIGMASTEROL.

BETA-SITOSTEROL

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

Cycloeucalenol

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

Daphnin

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

Lupeol

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

STIGMASTEROL

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

Umbelliferone

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

beta-Daucosterol

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

palmitic acid

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

Activities

Chloranthus multistachys has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial.

Antibacterial

1. Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England)

Conditions

Chloranthus multistachys has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include leukemia, tumor cell lines.

Leukemia

1. Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England)

Tumor cell lines

1. Journal of natural products

Preparations

Chloranthus multistachys has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include SGP-17-S, whole plant.

Sgp-17-s

1. Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England)

Whole plant

1. Journal of natural products