Winter's bark

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Winter's-bark
• Winter's Bark

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered under Caneleales and categorized under the family Winteraceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Drimys and the specific species Drimys winteri.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is native to the southern regions of South America. Its geographical range specifically includes the southern portions of Argentina. Additionally, it can be found throughout the central parts of Chile. The distribution also extends into the southern areas of Chile. Together, these locations define the natural habitat where this species thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Drimys winteri is characterized by its broad adaptability across diverse altitudinal gradients within forest ecosystems. It occupies a wide vertical distribution, spanning an elevational range that begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends to high-altitude montane environments reaching up to 2500 m AMSL. This extensive range allows the species to inhabit various microclimates, from lowland coastal forests to cooler, mist-shrouded cloud forests. Its ability to thrive across such a significant elevational spectrum suggests a high degree of tolerance to varying temperature regimes, moisture levels, and atmospheric pressures, enabling it to play a structural role in multiple forest strata throughout its habitat.

Elevational range max:

2500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Drimys winteri is characterized by its status as a perennial species, ensuring its long-term presence within its ecological niche. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its buds well above the ground, a structural adaptation that supports its growth habit. It is also classified as a phanerophyte in terms of its overall life form, contributing to its robust development. Furthermore, the plant exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its foliage throughout the year rather than shedding it seasonally, allowing for continuous photosynthetic activity.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Drimys winteri is characterized by its robust growth form, as it develops into a woody tree. This species is a terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte. In terms of stature, it is a significant specimen with a mean plant height of 7.5 m, though it can reach a maximum height of up to 10 m. Its structural habit is classified as self-supporting, meaning it does not rely on climbing mechanisms such as lianas or vines to maintain its upright position.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

10 m

Plant height mean:

7.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Drimys winteri is characterized by a metabolic framework consistent with temperate woody species, primarily utilizing the C3 photosynthetic pathway for carbon fixation. This pathway involves the direct fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide through the enzyme Rubisco during the Calvin cycle, which is typical for plants inhabiting the moist, cool environments where this species is commonly found. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, lacking the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria (such as rhizobia) required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, meaning it relies on the uptake of nitrogenous compounds directly from the soil matrix.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Drimys winteri is characterized by a diverse range of dispersal mechanisms and specific seed morphological traits. The plant exhibits a multifaceted dispersal syndrome, utilizing strategies that include anemochory (wind dispersal), zoochory (animal dispersal), autochory (self-dispersal), hydrochory (water dispersal), and unspecialized methods to ensure its progeny reaches suitable habitats. The seeds themselves demonstrate significant variability in size and weight; individual seed mass ranges from a minimum of 0.00339 g to a maximum of 0.03571 g. On average, the seed mass for this species is approximately 0.007194 g, reflecting a specialized evolutionary approach to distribution and establishment within its ecosystem.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Seed mass max:

0.03571 g

Seed mass mean:

0.007194 g

Seed mass min:

0.00339 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Drimys winteri has 31 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Polygodial, Drimenol, Isodrimeninol, Valdiviolide, Astilbin.

Polygodial

1. Fish & shellfish immunology
2. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences
3. Applied and environmental microbiology
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Drimenol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences
3. Applied and environmental microbiology

Isodrimeninol

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
2. Applied and environmental microbiology

Valdiviolide

1. Dr. Duke
2. Applied and environmental microbiology

Astilbin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

CA

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

CU

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Caryophyllene

1. Dr. Duke

Confertifolin

1. Dr. Duke

Drimendiol

1. Applied and environmental microbiology

Activities

Drimys winteri has 257 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antinociceptive, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor, ATPase-Inhibitor, Acaricide.

Antinociceptive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Drimys winteri has 6 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include allergic reactions, atherosclerosis, cancer, inflammation, neurodegenerative diseases.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations