Epimedium sagittatum

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Aceranthus macrophyllus
• Aceranthus sagittatus
• Aceranthus triphyllus
• Epimedium sagittatum var. glabratum
• Epimedium sagittifolius
• Epimedium coactum var. longtouhum
• Epimedium ikariso
• Epimedium sinense

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 Ranunculales, it is classified under the family Berberidaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation is placed within the genus Epimedium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide distribution throughout several key regions of East and Southeast Asia. Within China, it can be found across the South-Central, North-Central, and Southeast territories. Its presence extends beyond mainland China into the island nation of Japan. Furthermore, the species is also documented within the Indo-China region, specifically in Vietnam. Together, these locations highlight the plant's broad ecological range across the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Epimedium sagittatum is defined by its specific altitudinal distribution, which spans a diverse range of montane environments. The species is primarily found at elevations starting from a minimum of 200 m AMSL, ascending to a maximum altitude of 1750 m AMSL. This wide vertical distribution suggests a high degree of ecological plasticity, allowing the plant to inhabit various microclimates within its range. On average, the species thrives at a mean elevation of 837.5 m AMSL, indicating a preference for mid-elevation habitats where environmental conditions are most stable for its growth and development.

Elevational range max:

1750 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

837.5 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

200 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Epimedium sagittatum is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its habitat through multiple growing seasons. As a perennial, it establishes a stable root system that enables it to re-emerge and develop new foliage and reproductive structures annually. Its developmental cycle involves a period of seasonal dormancy, typically during the colder months, followed by a period of active vegetative growth in the spring. During the peak of its life cycle, the plant undergoes a flowering phase where it produces its distinctive blooms, eventually transitioning into a seed-setting stage to facilitate the dispersal of offspring for future generations. This continuous cycle of growth, reproduction, and dormancy defines its long-term survival strategy within its ecological niche.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Epimedium sagittatum is characterized by a relatively low-growing stature, with plant height typically ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 0.5 m, resulting in an average height of approximately 0.4 m. The plant structure is defined by its basal leaves and spreading habit, which fits within this specific vertical dimension.

Plant height max:

0.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.4 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Reproduction

The reproduction of Epimedium sagittatum is characterized by the development of inflorescences that typically range in length from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 0.2 m. Following successful pollination, the plant produces fruits that exhibit a highly consistent morphology; the fruit length is uniform across the specimen, maintaining a minimum, mean, and maximum value of 1 cm.

Fruit length max:

1 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.2 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.1 m

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Epimedium sagittatum has 5 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, rhizome, stem, flower, root.

Leaf

1. Metabolites
2. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
3. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
4. BMC plant biology

Rhizome

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Stem

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Flower

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

Root

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

Chemicals

Epimedium sagittatum has 35 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Icariin, ANTHOCYANIN, Icaritin, Flavonoids, Icariside II.

Icariin

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Phytochemistry
3. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
4. Metabolites
5. Planta medica

ANTHOCYANIN

1. PloS one
2. Plant cell reports
3. Frontiers in plant science
4. Gene

Icaritin

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Science bulletin
3. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
4. Metabolites

Flavonoids

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. BMC plant biology
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Icariside II

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
3. Metabolites

Epimedin A

1. Metabolites
2. Frontiers in plant science

Epimedin B

1. Metabolites
2. Frontiers in plant science

Epimedin C

1. Metabolites
2. Frontiers in plant science

Flavonoid

1. BMC plant biology
2. BMC genomics

Icariside I

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Metabolites

Activities

Epimedium sagittatum has 2 reported activities identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antioxidant.

Anticancer

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Epimedium sagittatum has 8 reported investigations on conditions identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include osteoporosis, Parkinson's disease, anxiolytic, depression, impotence.

Osteoporosis

1. International journal of molecular sciences
2. Frontiers in plant science

Parkinson's disease

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Anxiolytic

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Depression

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Impotence

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Neuroinflammation

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Oxidative stress

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Rheumatism

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Preparations

Epimedium sagittatum has 5 reported preparations identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Epimedii Folium, Epimedii Herba, MeOH extract, aqueous extracts, traditional Chinese medicine.

Epimedii folium

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

Epimedii herba

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Meoh extract

1. Planta medica

Aqueous extracts

1. Life sciences

Traditional chinese medicine

1. Phytochemistry