Stalkless-flowered eleuthero

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Stalkless-flowered eleuthero
• Tatarian aralia

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Acanthopanax sessiliflorus
• Acanthopanax seoulensis
• Acanthopanax sessiliflorus var. parviceps
• Eleutherococcus seoulensis
• Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus var. parviceps

Regional and Traditional Names

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 Apiales, it is classified under the family Araliaceae and is specifically identified by the genus Eleutherococcus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across East Asia, primarily concentrated in the Russian Far East. Within this region, its presence is documented in the Amur, Khabarovsk, and Primorye territories. Moving into China, the species can be found extending into the Inner Mongolia region. It also occupies parts of the Manchuria area within the same country. Consequently, its natural habitat spans both northern Russian provinces and significant Chinese territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus is characterized by its ability to thrive in diverse and often transitional landscapes. This species is typically found colonizing cut-over forests, where the reduction of canopy cover provides the necessary light conditions for its development, as well as along forest edges that serve as ecotones between dense woodland and open areas. Furthermore, it inhabits meadows and occupies moist environments such as shores, demonstrating a broad ecological plasticity that allows it to persist in both disturbed forest habitats and open, riparian, or grassland settings.

Habitat :

cut-over forest, forest edges, meadows, shores

Life history

The life history of Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus is characterized by its classification as a phanerophyte, indicating that its perennating buds are located on aerial shoots well above the ground level. Within this structural framework, the plant also exhibits characteristics consistent with a nanophanerophyte, suggesting a growth habit where the woody stems remain relatively low or shrub-like in stature. As a perennial woody species, it undergoes seasonal cycles of growth and dormancy, utilizing its elevated buds to survive unfavorable environmental conditions before regenerating its foliage and flowering structures during the active growing season.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically categorized as a shrub. This plant reaches a maximum height of approximately 3.5 m, with a minimum height recorded at 3.5 m, indicating a consistent stature within its habitat. As a self-supporting organism, it does not function as a climber and maintains an independent lifestyle, showing no parasitic tendencies. It is a terrestrial species, growing directly in the soil rather than acting as an epiphyte.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height min:

3.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation strategies. As a C3 plant, it utilizes the enzyme Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide directly into a three-carbon compound, primarily through the Calvin cycle. This metabolic route implies that the plant is most efficient in temperate or shaded environments where photorespiration rates can be managed, as it lacks the specialized carbon-concentrating mechanisms found in C4 or CAM species. Consequently, its physiological adaptations are centered around optimizing gas exchange and light harvesting to support its growth and the synthesis of its secondary metabolites within the constraints of this standard photosynthetic framework.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus is characterized by a specific phenological window for its flowering stage. The flowering period is highly concentrated, with the flowering start occurring in August and the flowering end also concluding within the month of August. This narrow seasonal timing suggests a brief but synchronized reproductive phase within its natural habitat.

Flowering time :

Aug

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus has 2 reported plant parts identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem.

Leaf

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. Journal of biotechnology
3. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
4. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)
5. Chemistry & biodiversity

Stem

1. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)
2. Saudi journal of biological sciences
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus has 27 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Chiisanoside, Eleutheroside B, Eleutheroside E, Eleutheroside e1, Flavonoids.

Chiisanoside

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
3. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)
4. Chemistry & biodiversity
5. Natural product research

Eleutheroside B

1. Journal of AOAC International
2. Journal of biotechnology

Eleutheroside E

1. Journal of AOAC International
2. Journal of biotechnology

Eleutheroside e1

1. Journal of AOAC International
2. Journal of biotechnology

Flavonoids

1. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

triterpenoids

1. Journal of separation science
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

1-Deoxychiisanoside

1. Food & function

24-Hydroxychiisanoside

1. Food & function

AS-6

1. Journal of biochemistry and molecular biology

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Activities

Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus has 2 reported activities identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Cytotoxic.

Antioxidant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Cytotoxic

1. Natural product research

Medicinal Uses

Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus has 7 reported medicinal uses identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Arrhythmia, anti-oxidative stress, blood circulation, cancer, cardiovascular systems.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations