Fan-leaf mountain yam

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Fan-leaf mountain yam

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Dioscoreales, it is classified under the family Dioscoreaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Dioscorea as the species Dioscorea nipponica.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution spanning across parts of East Asia. In the Russian Far East, its presence is documented within the Amur, Khabarovsk, and Primorye regions. Its range extends significantly into China, where it can be found in the South-Central territories. Additionally, the species is located as far north as Inner Mongolia. Together, these areas define the specific natural habitats where the species thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Dioscorea nipponica is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution across its native habitats, spanning a diverse range of topographic environments. This species is found at elevations ranging from a minimum of 100 m AMSL to a maximum of 1700 m AMSL, allowing it to occupy various ecological niches from lower montane regions to higher elevations. On average, the plant thrives at a mean elevation of 900 m AMSL, suggesting a preference for mid-altitude montane ecosystems where environmental conditions are most optimal for its growth and development.

Elevational range max:

1700 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

900 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

100 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Dioscorea nipponica is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a cryptophyte, it employs specialized survival strategies to endure unfavorable environmental conditions, typically by protecting its vital organs underground. Specifically, it functions as a geophyte, relying on an underground storage organ, such as a tuber or rhizome, to maintain metabolic activity and facilitate regrowth during dormant periods.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Dioscorea nipponica is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. It functions as an obligatory climber, utilizing surrounding structures for support to ascend. The plant is an independent organism that does not exhibit parasitic behavior, and it maintains a terrestrial lifestyle.

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Dioscorea nipponica is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency within its ecological niche. Morphologically, the plant exhibits distinct leaf characteristics, featuring an orbicular leaf form that provides a broad surface area for light interception. The leaf margins are notably dissected, creating a complex structural outline, while the foliage is entirely smooth in terms of defensive structures, as the plant possesses no leaf thorns and no leaf spines.

Leaf form :

orbicular

Leaf margin :

dissected

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Dioscorea nipponica is characterized by a multi-faceted approach to seed and vegetative propagation. In terms of seed movement, the species exhibits a complex dispersal syndrome that encompasses anemochorous, zoochorous, autochorous, and hydrochorous mechanisms, suggesting that it utilizes wind, animals, water, and self-dispersal to colonize new habitats. This versatile strategy allows the plant to exploit various environmental vectors for successful recruitment. Beyond sexual reproduction via seeds, the plant also relies on vegetative reproduction, utilizing its tuberous structures to persist in the soil and expand its presence through clonal growth, ensuring survival even when environmental conditions are less favorable for seed germination.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Dioscorea nipponica has 2 reported plant parts identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include rhizome, root.

Rhizome

1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters
2. Planta medica
3. The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology
4. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Root

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Chemicals

Dioscorea nipponica has 17 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Dioscin, DIOSGENIN, 2,7-dihydroxy-3,4,6-trimethoxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene, Diosniponol A, Diosniponol B.

Dioscin

1. Journal of chromatography. A
2. Frontiers in pharmacology
3. Purinergic signalling
4. The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology
5. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

DIOSGENIN

1. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. The Journal of international medical research
5. Scientific reports

2,7-dihydroxy-3,4,6-trimethoxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene

1. Natural product research

Diosniponol A

1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters

Diosniponol B

1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters

Free Fatty Acids

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Gracillin

1. Journal of chromatography. A

Parvifloside

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Polysaccharide

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

Progenin II

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Dioscorea nipponica has 1 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Estrogenic.

Estrogenic

1. European journal of pharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Dioscorea nipponica has 14 reported medicinal uses identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include asthma, coronary heart disease, arrhythmia, cancer, cardiac diseases.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations