Euphorbia pekinensis Boiss. (1860) non Rupr. (1859)

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Peking Spurge

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Tithymalus pekinensis
• Galarhoeus pekinensis

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. It is further classified within the order Malpighiales and the family Euphorbiaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is within the genus Euphorbia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range spanning several distinct regions across East Asia. In the northernmost reaches of its habitat, it can be found within the Russian Far East, specifically in the Primorye region. Its presence extends significantly into China, where it inhabits the landscapes of Inner Mongolia and Manchuria. Furthermore, the species is distributed throughout the South-Central parts of China. Finally, its range reaches as far south as the island province of Hainan.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Euphorbia pekinenensis is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural adaptation to environmental conditions, it is classified as a hemicryptophyte, meaning its perennial buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or soil. Furthermore, its biological classification identifies it as a cryptophyte, a life form that relies on underground organs to survive unfavorable seasonal periods, ensuring its long-term presence in its natural habitat.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Euphorbia pekinesis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. It functions as an independent organism, meaning it is not a parasite, and it maintains a terrestrial lifestyle rather than being an epiphyte. While it exhibits certain climbing tendencies, its structural nature is categorized as self-supporting.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Euphorbia pekinensis involves the development of specialized fruit structures that exhibit consistent morphological characteristics. The fruit produced by this species is characterized by a uniform length, maintaining a constant value of 0.45 cm, which serves as both the minimum and maximum measurement for the fruit length. In terms of width, the fruits display a slight degree of variation; while the maximum width reaches 0.45 cm, the minimum width is recorded at 0.4 cm, resulting in a calculated mean fruit width of 0.425 cm. These precise dimensions ensure the structural integrity of the fruit during its reproductive cycle.

Fruit length max:

0.45 cm

Fruit width max:

0.45 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.425 cm

Fruit width min:

0.4 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Euphorbia pekinensis has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, leaf.

Root

1. Molecular biology reports
2. Planta medica

Leaf

1. Ying yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology

Chemicals

Euphorbia pekinensis has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Terpenoids, Euphol, Flavonoids, Tannins, Terpene.

Terpenoids

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

Euphol

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

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Tannins

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Terpene

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

alpha-Linolenic acid

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

kaempferol

1. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology

linolenic acid

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

oleic acid

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

palmitic acid

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

Activities

Euphorbia pekinensis has 1 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Toxic.

Toxic

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Medicinal Uses

Euphorbia pekinensis has 8 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include edema, ascites, cancer, gonorrhea, leukemias.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations