Chinese ash

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Chinese ash

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Lamiales, it is situated in the family Oleaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Fraxinus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several distinct regions of East Asia. In the Russian Far East, its presence is specifically noted within the Primorye territory. Its range extends extensively through China, covering the North-Central and South-Central provinces. Furthermore, the species is found in the Manchuria region of China. Finally, its habitat reaches as far north as the Inner Mongolia region.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Fraxinus chinensis is characterized by its preference for montane environments, where it typically thrives within forest ecosystems. This species occupies a specific altitudinal niche, ranging from a minimum elevation of 800 m AMSL to a maximum of 1600 m AMSL. Within this distribution, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 1200 m AMSL, situating it primarily in mid-to-high altitude mountain forests where it integrates into the complex structural layers of the woodland habitat.

Elevational range max:

1600 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

800 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, mountains

Life history

The life history of Fraxinus chinensis is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to establish long-term presence within its ecological niche. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated branches well above the ground, a structural adaptation that defines its growth habit. Its physiological cycle is marked by a deciduous nature, meaning it undergoes a seasonal shedding of leaves to manage resource conservation and survive unfavorable environmental conditions. Through these combined traits of longevity, elevated growth form, and seasonal leaf abscission, the plant follows a stable and recurring developmental pattern throughout its life cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Fraxinus chinensis is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree. It is a self-supporting plant that functions independently, neither acting as a parasite nor as an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. In terms of stature, the species typically reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 10 meters to a maximum of 18 meters, with an average plant height of approximately 11 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

18 m

Plant height mean:

11 m

Plant height min:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Fraxinus chinensis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, reflecting its metabolic strategy for carbon fixation. Its foliar morphology features elliptic leaf forms with toothed margins, notably lacking any leaf thorns or spines. The leaves exhibit significant dimensional variability, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a mean of 6.5 cm, reaching a maximum of 10 cm, while widths vary from 2 cm to a maximum of 4 cm, with a mean width of 3 cm. The plant's leaf economics are further defined by its Specific Leaf Area (SLA), which fluctuates between a minimum of 222.4373134 cm²/g and a maximum of 347.882572 cm²/g, maintaining a mean SLA of 273.0713012 cm²/g. Additionally, the structural integrity of its vegetative body is supported by a mean stem specific density (SSD) of 661 mg/cm³.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length mean:

6.5 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf margin :

toothed

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

4 cm

Leaf width mean:

3 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) max:

347.882572 cm²/g

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

273.0713012 cm²/g

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) min:

222.4373134 cm²/g

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

661 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Fraxinus chinensis is characterized by a specific flowering and fruiting cycle. The flowering period is concentrated in June, with both the start and end of the flowering stage occurring within this month. During this time, the plant produces inflorescences that typically range in length from a minimum of 0.08 m to a maximum of 0.1 m. Following pollination, the plant develops fruits that vary in size; the fruit length ranges from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 4 cm, with an average length of approximately 3.5 cm. The fruit width is similarly variable, measuring between a minimum of 0.4 cm and a maximum of 0.6 cm, maintaining a mean width of 0.5 cm.

Flowering time :

Jun

Fruit length max:

4 cm

Fruit length mean:

3.5 cm

Fruit length min:

3 cm

Fruit width max:

0.6 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.5 cm

Fruit width min:

0.4 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.1 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.08 m

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Fraxinus chinensis has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Coumarins, Esculetin, Esculin, Fraxin, aesculin.

Coumarins

1. Journal of separation science
2. Journal of chromatography. A

Esculetin

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC
2. Journal of chromatography. A

Esculin

1. Journal of chromatography. A

Fraxin

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

aesculin

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