Embelia parviflora

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several key regions in Asia. Within China, it can be found growing in the South-Central areas as well as the Southeast. Its presence is also noted in the tropical environment of Hainan and the high-altitude regions of Tibet. Moving beyond China, the species extends into the Indian Subcontinent. Specifically, it is documented to thrive in the Assam region of India.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Embelia parviflora is characterized by its specific distribution across varying altitudinal gradients, which dictates its habitat preferences and environmental adaptations. This species thrives within a broad vertical range, finding suitable ecological niches from lower montane regions to higher elevations. Specifically, it is documented to occur at a minimum elevation of 300 m AMSL, extending upward to a maximum elevation of 1800 m AMSL. The distribution follows a pattern that centers around a mean elevation of 1050 m AMSL, suggesting that the plant's optimal physiological conditions and reproductive success are most frequently realized within this mid-altitude belt. This elevational positioning influences the temperature regimes, moisture availability, and soil compositions to which the species is adapted.

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1050 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

300 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Embelia parviflora is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. As a long-lived species, it follows a developmental trajectory that extends well beyond a single growing cycle, distinguishing it from annual or biennial species. Throughout its lifecycle, the plant undergoes various stages of vegetative growth and reproductive maturation, maintaining its presence in its natural habitat through sustained physiological activity. This perennial nature enables the plant to establish robust structural systems that support long-term survival and repeated flowering or fruiting periods, contributing to its stability within its ecological niche.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Embelia parviflora is characterized by a shrubby growth form that exhibits woody characteristics. This plant typically reaches a mean height of approximately 3 meters. In terms of its structural habit, it functions as a facultative climber, meaning it possesses the ability to use surrounding structures for support while maintaining its own growth pattern.

Climber :

facultative

Growth form :

shrub

Plant height mean:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiological profile of the foliage in Embelia parviflora is characterized by specific morphological dimensions that define its leaf structure. The leaves exhibit a variable length, ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 2 cm, with an average leaf length of 1.5 cm. Complementing these longitudinal dimensions, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 0.6 cm and a maximum of 1 cm. These precise measurements in leaf length and width indicate a compact foliar architecture essential to the plant's surface area optimization and metabolic processes.

Leaf length max:

2 cm

Leaf length mean:

1.5 cm

Leaf length min:

1 cm

Leaf width max:

1 cm

Leaf width min:

0.6 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Embelia parviflora is characterized by the development of small, specialized inflorescences that serve as the structural foundation for its flowering process. These inflorescences are notably diminutive, measuring with high precision between a minimum of 0.005 m and a maximum of 0.01 m in length. Within these compact floral structures, the plant facilitates its reproductive cycle through the arrangement of individual flowers, which are designed to support pollination. The compact nature of these inflorescences, restricted to a range of 5 mm to 10 mm, suggests a specialized mechanism for floral presentation and resource allocation during the reproductive phase.

Inflorescence length max:

0.01 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.005 m

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Embelia parviflora has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, stem.

Root

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

Stem

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