weeping forsythia

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• weeping forsythia
• Golden-bell
• forsythia
• goldenbells
• weeping goldenbells
• trailing forsythia

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Rangium suspensum
• Forsythia suspensa var. pubescens
• Forsythia suspensa f. variegata
• Syringa suspensa
• Forsythia suspensa variegata
• Lilac perpensa
• Ligustrum suspensum
• Forsythia sieboldii
• Forsythia giraldiana f. pubescens
• Forsythia fortunei
• Forsythia suspensa f. atrocaulis
• Forsythia suspensa f. aureovariegata
• Forsythia suspensa f. decipiens
• Forsythia suspensa var. fortunei
• Forsythia suspensa var. latifolia
• Forsythia suspensa f. pallida
• Forsythia suspensa f. pubescens
• Forsythia suspensa var. sieboldii
• Forsythia suspensa var. variegata

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. Within the order Lamiales, it is classified under the family Oleaceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Forsythia and the species Forsythia suspensa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical presence across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its distribution includes the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Moving toward Middle Europe, the species can be found growing within Germany and the Czechia-Slovakia region. Additionally, the plant extends its reach into Southwestern Europe, specifically within Spain. Collectively, these locations highlight a broad range of habitats spanning from the north to the south of the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Forsythia suspensa is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution across its natural habitats, allowing it to adapt to diverse mountain and hillside environments. This species exhibits significant vertical flexibility, occupying an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 250 m AMSL and extends to a maximum of 2200 m AMSL. Within this wide spectrum, the plant thrives most consistently at a mean elevation of approximately 1225 m AMSL, a middle-tier altitude that likely represents its optimal ecological niche for growth and reproduction. This wide range suggests a robust capacity to endure varying temperature gradients and atmospheric pressures found across different montane zones.

Elevational range max:

2200 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1225 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

250 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Forsythia suspensa is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its continued presence in the ecosystem through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its buds well above the ground level to survive unfavorable conditions, though its specific growth habit can also be categorized under the nanophanerophyte classification depending on its structural development. The plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage annually in response to seasonal changes, which facilitates its dormancy period before the emergence of new growth.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Forsythia suspensa is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub, functioning as a self-supporting plant rather than a climber or liana. It is a terrestrial species that grows independently, lacking any parasitic or epiphytic lifestyle. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits variable height dimensions, typically ranging from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of 3 meters, with a mean height of approximately 1.8 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

1.8 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Forsythia suspensa is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing standard carbon fixation processes typical of most woody deciduous shrubs. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies entirely on autotrophic nutrition through soil-based nutrient uptake and light absorption rather than the capture of prey. The leaf morphology plays a critical role in its gas exchange and light interception, exhibiting significant variability in dimensions; the leaf length typically averages 6 cm, with a minimum measurement of 2 cm and a maximum reaching up to 10 cm. Complementing this, the leaf width ranges from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 5 cm, maintaining a mean width of approximately 3.25 cm. These physiological and structural parameters define its capacity for biomass production and environmental adaptation.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length mean:

6 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf width max:

5 cm

Leaf width mean:

3.25 cm

Leaf width min:

1.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Forsythia suspensa is characterized by a distinct flowering period that typically begins in December and extends through April, though the timing can be variable depending on environmental conditions. Once pollination occurs, the plant develops fruit in the form of a capsule. These capsules exhibit specific morphological dimensions, with a mean fruit length of 1.85 cm, ranging from a minimum of 1.2 cm to a maximum of 2.5 cm. Similarly, the fruit width varies, maintaining a mean of 0.9 cm, with measurements ranging from a minimum of 0.6 cm to a maximum of 1.2 cm. Upon maturity, the fruit is dehiscent, meaning it splits open to facilitate the release of seeds for the next generation.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Flowering time :

Dec

Flowering time :

Apr

Fruit length max:

2.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.85 cm

Fruit length min:

1.2 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

1.2 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.9 cm

Fruit width min:

0.6 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Forsythia suspensa has 5 reported plant parts identified across 21 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, leaf, seed, stem, root.

Fruit

1. Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior
2. Acta biochimica et biophysica Sinica
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
4. Planta medica
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Leaf

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Scientific reports
4. Journal of food biochemistry
5. PloS one

Seed

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

Stem

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Fitoterapia

Root

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Forsythia suspensa has 93 reported phytochemicals identified across 21 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Phillyrin, Forsythoside A, PHILLYGENIN, Forsythiaside, Forsythin.

Phillyrin

1. Dr. Duke
2. International immunopharmacology
3. Journal of chromatography. A
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Environmental monitoring and assessment

Forsythoside A

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Journal of natural medicines
4. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
5. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

PHILLYGENIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety
3. Planta medica
4. Journal of food biochemistry
5. PloS one

Forsythiaside

1. Natural product research
2. Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior
3. Scientific reports
4. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
5. Journal of separation science

Forsythin

1. Journal of natural medicines
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Inflammation research : official journal of the European Histamine Research Society ... [et al.]
4. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
5. Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces

Lignans

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Journal of natural medicines
4. PloS one
5. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

RUTIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of natural medicines
3. Scientific reports
4. International journal of molecular sciences

Arctigenin

1. Journal of natural medicines
2. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. PloS one

Forsythiaside A

1. Biochimica et biophysica acta. Molecular basis of disease
2. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Activities

Forsythia suspensa has 358 reported activities identified across 21 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Antiviral, Antidiabetic, Antihyperlipidemic.

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of chromatography. A
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Scientific reports

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports
3. Inflammation research : official journal of the European Histamine Research Society ... [et al.]

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of chromatography. A
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antihyperlipidemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Choleretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of chromatography. A

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Immunosuppressant

1. Dr. Duke
2. PloS one

Neuroprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Bioorganic chemistry

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Forsythia suspensa has 41 reported investigations on conditions identified across 21 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include inflammation, apoptosis, colitis, gonorrhea, oxidative stress.

Inflammation

1. Natural product research
2. Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
5. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety

Apoptosis

1. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety
2. Biochimica et biophysica acta. Molecular basis of disease

Colitis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Acta biochimica et biophysica Sinica

Gonorrhea

1. Journal of chromatography. A
2. International journal of molecular sciences

Oxidative stress

1. Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior
2. Scientific reports

Pyrexia

1. Journal of chromatography. A
2. International journal of molecular sciences

Alzheimer's disease

1. Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior

Covid-19

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Escherichia coli

1. Journal of food protection

Lactobacillus plantarum

1. Journal of food protection

Preparations

Forsythia suspensa has 17 reported preparations identified across 21 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Forsythia suspensa extract, fruits, Extracts, Forsythiae Fructus (FF), Lian Qiao (LQ).

Forsythia suspensa extract

1. International journal of molecular sciences
2. Journal of separation science

Fruits

1. Planta medica
2. Journal of Asian natural products research

Extracts

1. Life sciences

Forsythiae fructus (ff)

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Lian qiao (lq)

1. Journal of chromatography. A

Phillygenin

1. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety

Traditional chinese medicine

1. BioMed research international

Air-dried fruits

1. Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior

Alcohol extract

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

Decoction

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