Curculigo latifolia

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Aurota latifolia
• Molineria latifolia

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is further organized into the order Asparagales and the family Hypoxidaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Curculigo as Curculigo latifolia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range across several key regions in Asia. Within China, its presence is documented in both the Hainan province and the Southeast regions of the country. Moving into the Indian Subcontinent, it can be found growing in Bangladesh. The species also extends into the Indo-China area, specifically inhabiting the Andaman Islands. Furthermore, its distribution includes the country of Cambodia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Curculigo latifolia is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a cryptophyte, specifically categorized as a geophyte, which means its regenerative organs are located underground, enabling it to survive unfavorable environmental conditions. In terms of its foliage and canopy structure, the plant is evergreen, maintaining its leaves throughout the year rather than shedding them seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Curculigo latifolia is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. It is a terrestrial, independent plant that does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant exhibits a self-supporting habit, meaning it does not require external structures for climbing. In terms of stature, it is a relatively low-growing species with an average plant height of approximately 0.6 m, though it can reach a maximum height of up to 1 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.6 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Curculigo latifolia is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which involves the direct fixation of carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle without the specialized carbon-concentrating mechanisms found in C4 or CAM plants. This metabolic strategy dictates its carbon assimilation efficiency and water-use patterns, typical of many forest-floor understory species. Additionally, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, relying instead on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil through its root system.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Curculigo latifolia involves the production of specialized seeds that exhibit highly consistent physical characteristics. Based on morphological data, the seeds produced by this species are remarkably uniform in size and weight, maintaining a constant seed mass throughout the reproductive cycle. The seed mass measurements show no variance, with a mean, maximum, and minimum value all recorded at exactly 0.0015 g. This precise uniformity in seed mass suggests a highly regulated developmental process during the maturation of the reproductive organs, ensuring that each individual seed possesses a standardized weight of 0.0015 g for dispersal and germination.

Seed mass mean:

0.0015 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Curculigo latifolia has 3 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 leaf, root, stem.

Leaf

1. TheScientificWorldJournal

Root

1. TheScientificWorldJournal

Stem

1. TheScientificWorldJournal

Chemicals

Curculigo latifolia has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Curculigoside, Methyl 3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-benzoate, arbutin, quercetin.

Curculigoside

1. TheScientificWorldJournal

Methyl 3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-benzoate

1. TheScientificWorldJournal

arbutin

1. Journal of cosmetic science

quercetin

1. TheScientificWorldJournal

Activities

Curculigo latifolia has 1 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.

Antioxidant

1. TheScientificWorldJournal

Preparations

Curculigo latifolia has 5 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanolic extract of the root organ, ethanolic root extract, ethanolic stem extract, ethyl acetate extract of the stem, ethyl acetate stem extract.

Ethanolic extract of the root organ

1. TheScientificWorldJournal

Ethanolic root extract

1. TheScientificWorldJournal

Ethanolic stem extract

1. TheScientificWorldJournal

Ethyl acetate extract of the stem

1. TheScientificWorldJournal

Ethyl acetate stem extract

1. TheScientificWorldJournal