Erycibe obtusifolia

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Erycibe boniana
• Erycibe versatilihirta

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Solanales, it is further categorized into the family Convolvulaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Erycibe.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical range concentrated within East and Southeast Asia. In China, its presence is noted in the tropical region of Hainan. Furthermore, it can be found throughout the broader area of China Southeast. The distribution extends beyond Chinese borders into the Indo-China peninsula. Specifically, this medicinal species is also documented to grow in Vietnam.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Erycibe obtusifolia is characterized by its nature as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle within a single year. Throughout its existence, the plant maintains an evergreen status, retaining its foliage continuously rather than shedding it seasonally. This combination of a long-lived lifecycle and constant leaf presence allows the species to maintain physiological activity and structural stability over extended periods.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Erycibe obtusifolia is characterized by its substantial growth habit, reaching an average plant height of approximately 12 m. It functions as an obligatory climber, specifically classified as a liana, which relies on external structures for upward progression rather than being self-supporting. The structural integrity of the plant is defined by its woody nature, providing the necessary rigidity and strength to support its extensive climbing architecture.

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Plant height mean:

12 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Erycibe obtusifolia is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a metabolic process optimized for environments where carbon dioxide fixation occurs via the Calvin cycle without the specialized adaptations found in C4 or CAM plants. The vegetative structure is defined by its foliar morphology, featuring oblanceolate leaf forms that lack both thorns and spines. The leaves exhibit an entire margin and possess specific dimensions used to regulate gas exchange and light absorption; they typically reach a mean length of 7.75 cm (ranging from a minimum of 6.5 cm to a maximum of 9 cm) and a mean width of 3.25 cm (ranging from a minimum of 2.5 cm to a maximum of 4 cm).

Leaf form :

oblanceolate

Leaf length max:

9 cm

Leaf length mean:

7.75 cm

Leaf length min:

6.5 cm

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

4 cm

Leaf width mean:

3.25 cm

Leaf width min:

2.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Erycibe obtusifolia is characterized by the development of fruit that exhibits a highly consistent morphological profile. The fruit length is remarkably uniform across observed specimens, with a mean, minimum, and maximum measurement all reaching exactly 1.4 cm. This lack of variance in fruit dimensions suggests a stable reproductive output where the fruit length remains constant at 1.4 cm, ensuring predictable structural characteristics during the dispersal phase of its life cycle.

Fruit length max:

1.4 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Erycibe obtusifolia has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include stem.

Stem

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Erycibe obtusifolia has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include MDA, Malondialdehyde.

MDA

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Malondialdehyde

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Preparations

Erycibe obtusifolia has 2 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include EO extract, Extract of stem of Erycibe obtusifolia (EO).

Eo extract

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Extract of stem of erycibe obtusifolia (eo)

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology