arching bushweed

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• arching bushweed

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Acidoton ramiflorus
• Securinega multiflora
• Phyllanthus trigonocladus
• Xylophylla parviflora
• Geblera chinensis
• Acidoton flueggeoides
• Flueggea trigonoclada
• Flueggea flueggeoides
• Xylophylla ramiflora
• Phyllanthus fluggeoides
• Phyllanthus ramiflorus
• Geblera suffruticosa
• Geblera sungariensis
• Securinega suffruticosa
• Securinega suffruticosa var. amamiensis
• Securinega fluggeoides
• Securinega japonica
• Pharnaceum suffruticosum

Regional and Traditional Names

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 Malpighiales, it is situated in the family Phyllanthaceae. Finally, it is specifically identified by the genus Flueggea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning several distinct regions across Asia. In the colder climates of Siberia, it can be specifically found in the Chita region. Moving toward the eastern coast, the species inhabits the Russian Far East, particularly within the Amur and Primorye territories. Its range extends significantly into China, where it is documented throughout the South-Central provinces. Finally, the plant's distribution reaches tropical latitudes in the southernmost island of Hainan.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Flueggea suffruticosa is characterized by its ability to inhabit diverse altitudinal gradients within its native landscape. This species thrives across a broad vertical distribution, ranging from lower montane zones up to high-altitude environments. Specifically, its elevational range begins at a minimum of 800 m AMSL and extends to a maximum of 2500 m AMSL. Throughout this distributional span, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 1650 m AMSL, suggesting a preference for mid-to-high altitude ecological niches where specific climatic and moisture regimes are present.

Elevational range max:

2500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1650 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

800 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Flueggea suffruticosa is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. It exhibits a complex structural strategy, manifesting as both a phanerophyte and a nanophanerophyte depending on its developmental stage or environmental conditions. As a deciduous species, it undergoes seasonal cycles of foliage shedding, adapting its physiological processes to the changing environmental cues of its habitat.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Flueggea suffruticosa is characterized by a woody growth form, primarily manifesting as a shrub or a woody forb. This plant is a self-supporting, terrestrial species that does not function as a climber, epiphyte, or parasite, maintaining an independent life cycle. In terms of stature, it typically reaches an average height of 2 m, though its size can vary significantly, ranging from a minimum of 1 m to a maximum of 3 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

2 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Flueggea suffruticosa is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation and metabolic processes. The plant's leaf morphology plays a critical role in its resource acquisition, featuring elliptic leaf forms with entire margins and a complete absence of leaf thorns or spines. Morphometric analysis of the foliage reveals significant variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 8 cm, maintaining a mean length of 4.75 cm. Correspondingly, leaf width varies from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 3 cm, with a mean width of 2 cm. A key indicator of its leaf economics and resource-use efficiency is the Specific Leaf Area (SLA), which is recorded at a constant value of 624.7335665 cm²/g across its minimum, mean, and maximum measurements, suggesting a highly uniform leaf structure and investment strategy in relation to its biomass.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

8 cm

Leaf length mean:

4.75 cm

Leaf length min:

1.5 cm

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

3 cm

Leaf width mean:

2 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) min:

624.7335665 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Flueggea suffruticosa is characterized by a dioecious sexual system, meaning that individual plants are either male or female. The flowering period for this species is relatively specific, with the flowering process typically occurring in August, though timing can be variable. Following successful pollination, the plant produces fruits that are highly consistent in size, maintaining a uniform width of approximately 0.5 cm, with both the minimum, mean, and maximum measurements recorded at this value.

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit width max:

0.5 cm

Reproduction sexual :

dioecious

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

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

Leaf

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

Root

1. PloS one

Chemicals

Flueggea suffruticosa has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Securinine, Allosecurinine, Flavonoids, Tannins, Viroallosecurinine.

Securinine

1. Fitoterapia
2. Current pharmaceutical design
3. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology

Allosecurinine

1. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology

Flavonoids

1. Fitoterapia

Tannins

1. Fitoterapia

Viroallosecurinine

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

Virosecurinine

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