Eupatorium chinense

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Eupatorium tripartitum
• Eupatorium fortunei var. glandulosum
• Eupatorium japonicum f. angustatum
• Eupatorium japonicum var. dissectum
• Eupatorium japonicum var. tripartitum
• Eupatorium makinoi
• Eupatorium makinoi var. oppositifolium
• Eupatorium chinense var. oppositifolium
• Eupatorium chinense f. tripartitum
• Eupatorium fortunei var. angustatum
• Eupatorium fortunei var. dissectum
• Eupatorium fortunei f. aureoreticulatum
• Eupatorium hakonense var. intermedium
• Eupatorium fortunei var. eglandulosum
• Eupatorium laciniatum var. dissectum
• Eupatorium japonicum var. angustatum
• Eupatorium tripartitum f. angustatum
• Eupatorium fortunei var. tripartitum
• Eupatorium japonicum var. eglandulosum
• Eupatorium japonicum var. fragrans
• Eupatorium japonicum var. sachalinense
• Eupatorium japonicum f. aureoreticulatum
• Eupatorium melanadenium
• Eupatorium sachalinense var. oppositifolium
• Eupatorium sinense

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 Asterales, it is specifically nested within the family Asteraceae. Its taxonomic identity is further defined by its placement in the genus Eupatorium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse range of habitats across several key regions in East Asia. Within mainland China, its presence is widespread, spanning from the North-Central provinces to the South-Central territories. It is also commonly found throughout the Southeast regions of China and on the tropical island of Hainan. Beyond the Chinese mainland, its natural range extends significantly into Eastern Asia. Specifically, the species can also be identified growing in the natural landscapes of Japan.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Eupatorium chinense is characterized by its specialized habitat preferences within high-altitude montane environments. This species thrives within a specific altitudinal band, occupying an ecological niche strictly defined by its elevational range. It is found primarily at elevations ranging from a minimum of 1950 m AMSL to a maximum of 2300 m AMSL. This narrow vertical distribution suggests a high degree of adaptation to the unique climatic conditions, such as temperature fluctuations, solar radiation levels, and atmospheric pressure, typical of these mid-to-high mountain zones. Such precise elevational constraints indicate that the plant is sensitive to the specific environmental gradients present within this subalpine or montane belt.

Elevational range max:

2300 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1950 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Eupatorium chinense is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its reproductive cycle within a single year. As a perennial species, it establishes a stable vegetative structure that can survive dormant periods, enabling it to regrow and undergo successive cycles of flowering and seed production over several years. This long-term developmental strategy allows the plant to accumulate biomass and resources more effectively than annual or biennial counterparts, contributing to its establishment within its natural ecological niche.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Eupatorium chinense is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. This plant is strictly terrestrial, functioning as an independent organism rather than acting as a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of its structural habit, it is a self-supporting species, lacking the climbing characteristics of a vine or liana. The plant exhibits significant variation in stature, with its height ranging from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 2 m, maintaining a mean plant height of approximately 1.125 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

1.125 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Eupatorium chinense is characterized by specific morphological dimensions of its foliage and its metabolic approach to nutrient acquisition. The leaves exhibit significant variability in size, with a mean length of 13 cm and a mean width of 4.25 cm; however, individual leaf dimensions can range from a minimum length of 6 cm to a maximum length of 20 cm, and a width spanning from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 6 cm. Regarding its nutritional strategy, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil through its root system rather than through symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Leaf length max:

20 cm

Leaf length mean:

13 cm

Leaf length min:

6 cm

Leaf width max:

6.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

4.25 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Eupatorium chinense is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. The plant is capable of self-fertilization, ensuring reproductive success even in varying environmental conditions. Following successful pollination, the plant produces small fruits that maintain a consistent size, with a mean, minimum, and maximum length of 0.35 cm. The resulting seeds are exceptionally minute, exhibiting a mean mass of 0.000375 g, with individual seed masses ranging from a minimum of 0.00037 g to a maximum of 0.00038 g.

Fruit length max:

0.35 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.00038 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000375 g

Seed mass min:

0.00037 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Eupatorium chinense has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 2-Alpha-Hydroxyeupatolide, Budlein B, Eupachifolin D, Eupaserrin, MOLLISORIN B.

2-Alpha-Hydroxyeupatolide

1. Journal of natural products

Budlein B

1. Journal of natural products

Eupachifolin D

1. Journal of natural products

Eupaserrin

1. Journal of natural products

MOLLISORIN B

1. Journal of natural products

Pyrrolizidine alkaloid

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Conditions

Eupatorium chinense has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include tumor cell lines.

Tumor cell lines

1. Journal of natural products

Preparations

Eupatorium chinense has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include whole plant.

Whole plant

1. Journal of natural products