Walter's dogwood

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Walter's dogwood

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cornus yunnanensis
• Swida walteri
• Swida walteri var. confertiflora
• Cornus walteri var. confertiflora
• Swida walteri var. insignis
• Cornus walteri var. insignis
• Swida coreana
• Thelycrania coreana
• Cornus henryi
• Cornus coreana

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Further taxonomic placement includes the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Cornales. It is a member of the Cornaceae family and is specifically categorized under the genus Cornus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific range across several key regions in East Asia. Within China, its presence is documented throughout the South-Central territories. It is also found extending into the North-Central parts of the country. Furthermore, the species is distributed across the Southeast region of China. Finally, its geographical reach includes the peninsula of Korea in Eastern Asia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cornus walteri is characterized by a highly specialized and restricted environmental niche, specifically defined by its narrow altitudinal distribution. This species is found within a precise elevational range, occurring exclusively at an altitude of 2800 m AMSL. This specific positioning suggests a dependency on the unique climatic conditions, such as temperature gradients, moisture availability, and atmospheric pressure, found only at this particular height above sea level. Such a limited elevational range indicates that the plant is likely an endemic specialist, adapted to the specific ecological stressors and biotic interactions unique to this high-altitude montane zone.

Elevational range max:

2800 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Cornus walteri is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a stable presence within its ecosystem. In terms of its structural life form, it functions as a phanerophyte, possessing buds located well above the soil surface, which enables it to maintain woody growth and endure seasonal environmental shifts. Additionally, it can be classified under the nanophanerophyte category, reflecting a growth habit where the woody stems remain relatively low to the ground while still keeping their buds elevated above the substrate.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cornus walteri is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that functions as a self-supporting structure. As an independent species, it does not exhibit parasitic behavior and maintains a terrestrial life habit. In terms of stature, the plant typically reaches a mean height of 20 m, though individual specimens vary significantly in size, with height ranges observed between 8 m and 16 m.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

16 m

Plant height mean:

20 m

Plant height min:

8 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cornus walteri is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic strategy among woody temperate perennials that involves the direct fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide via the enzyme RuBisCO within the mesophyll cells. This pathway facilitates the production of three-carbon molecules during the initial carboxylation phase, driving the Calvin cycle to synthesize carbohydrates necessary for growth and structural maintenance. As a C3 plant, its physiological efficiency is highly dependent on ambient temperature and moisture availability, typically optimizing carbon assimilation under cool to moderate conditions where photorespiration remains relatively low. The metabolic processes of this species are integrated with its seasonal growth cycles, where the efficiency of its C3 carbon fixation supports the development of its vegetative architecture and reproductive structures throughout the growing season.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cornus walteri 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 stem.

Stem

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Cornus walteri has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include triterpenoids.

triterpenoids

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Cornus walteri has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include antidiarrheal, diarrhea, inflammation.

Antidiarrheal

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Diarrhea

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Inflammation

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Cornus walteri has 2 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Stem, Stem Bark.

Stem

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Stem bark

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)