parasol

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Chinese parasol-tree
• Chinese-bottletree
• Japanese varnishtree
• phoenixtree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Caucanthus platanifolia
• Clompanus simplex
• Firmiana simplex var. glabra
• Hibiscus simplex
• Culhamia hadiensis
• Culhamia platanifolia
• Culhamia triloba
• Sterculia platanifolia
• Sterculia pyriformis
• Sterculia fiorniana
• Clompanus pyriformis
• Firmiana platanifolia
• Firmiana platanifolia var. tomentosa
• Firmiana chinensis
• Sterculia simplex
• Firmiana platanifolia f. tomentosa
• Culhamia simplex

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Firmiana simplex, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Malvales and the family Malvaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by its specific genus, Firmiana.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several distinct regions. In the Western Indian Ocean, its presence can be found specifically in Mauritius. Within China, it is widely spread across various provinces and climates. Specifically, it inhabits China South-Central and China Southeast regions. Furthermore, its range extends to China North-Central and the island of Hainan.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Firmiana simplex is characterized by its existence as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody branches, a structural trait that defines its stature and survival strategy. The species exhibits a deciduous nature, meaning it sheds its foliage seasonally, typically in response to changes in temperature or moisture availability. This combination of a long-lived perennial lifecycle, a phanerophyte life form, and a deciduous growth pattern dictates its rhythmic seasonal transitions and long-term presence within its natural habitat.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Firmiana simplex is characterized by its stature as a woody, self-supporting tree that can reach a mean height of approximately 12 m. As a terrestrial species, it functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte. Its growth form is primarily that of a tree, though it can exhibit shrub-like qualities in certain developmental stages or environments. The plant possesses a distinct woody structure, providing the necessary rigidity to maintain its upright, self-supporting habit without the need for climbing mechanisms.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

12 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Firmiana simplex is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing the standard Calvin cycle for carbon fixation. Morphologically, its foliage features cordate leaf forms with entire margins, and the plant lacks specialized defensive structures such as leaf thorns or leaf spines. In terms of structural composition, the stem exhibits a specific density (SSD) with a mean value of 529 mg/cm³. Additionally, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external nitrogen sources within the soil to support its metabolic processes.

Leaf form :

cordate

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

529 mg/cm³

Reproduction

Reproduction in Firmiana simplex is facilitated through the production of seeds that exhibit highly consistent physical characteristics. Based on quantitative data, the seeds possess a very narrow mass range, indicating a uniform reproductive output. The mean seed mass is measured at 0.095933333 g, with a maximum recorded mass of 0.097 g and a minimum mass of 0.0953 g. This minimal variance in weight suggests a stabilized developmental process during seed maturation within the plant's fruit structures.

Seed mass max:

0.097 g

Seed mass mean:

0.095933333 g

Seed mass min:

0.0953 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Firmiana simplex 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 root.

Root

1. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Firmiana simplex has 17 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ARSENIC, CALCIUM, COPPER, Compound 7, Flavonoids.

ARSENIC

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

COPPER

1. Dr. Duke

Compound 7

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Flavonoids

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Glycosides

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

IRON

1. Dr. Duke

MAGNESIUM

1. Dr. Duke

MANGANESE

1. Dr. Duke

MERCURY

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Firmiana simplex has 202 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, (+)-Inotropic, ACE-Inhibitor, Adenosine-Antagonist, Analeptic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

(+)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Adenosine-Antagonist

1. Dr. Duke

Analeptic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic-Synergist

1. Dr. Duke

Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

Anorexic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiBPH

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Firmiana simplex has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Shigella dysenteriae, Staphylococcus aureus.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations