Fritillaria monantha

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Fritillaria thunbergii var. puqiensis
• Fritillaria puqiensis
• Fritillaria monantha var. ningguoica
• Fritillaria monantha var. tonglingensis
• Fritillaria lichuanensis
• Fritillaria huangshanensis
• Fritillaria huangshanensis f. tonglingensis
• Fritillaria hupehensis
• Fritillaria guizhouensis
• Fritillaria ningguoensis
• Fritillaria qimenensis
• Fritillaria wanjiangensis

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. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Liliales, falling into the family Liliaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Fritillaria, specifically the species Fritillaria monantha.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is naturally distributed across specific regions within the country of China. Its primary occurrence can be found throughout the South-Central parts of China. Additionally, the species is also known to inhabit the Southeast regions of the country. These two specific areas define its current known geographical range. Consequently, the habitat of Fritillaria monantha is concentrated within these distinct Chinese territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Fritillaria monantha is strictly defined by its specific altitudinal niche within its native montane habitats. This species is predominantly found at mid-to-high elevations, maintaining a specialized distribution that centers around a mean elevation of 950 m AMSL. Its environmental tolerance allows it to inhabit a vertical corridor that begins at a minimum elevation of 700 m AMSL and extends upward to a maximum limit of 1200 m AMSL. This elevational range suggests a preference for specific climatic conditions and soil profiles typically associated with these altitude belts, positioning the plant within a precise ecological stratum.

Elevational range max:

1200 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

950 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

700 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Fritillaria monantha is characterized by its specialized survival strategy as a cryptophyte, specifically functioning as a geophyte. This means that during unfavorable environmental conditions or dormant seasons, the plant protects its vital organs underground, relying on a specialized storage organ such as a bulb to endure periods of stress. As a geophyte, its vegetative structure is sequestered beneath the soil surface, allowing it to emerge rapidly when seasonal conditions become optimal for growth and reproduction. This life form enables the species to navigate seasonal fluctuations by remaining in a state of dormancy until the environmental triggers facilitate its annual cycle of development.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Fritillaria monantha is characterized by a self-supporting growth habit, functioning as an independent organism that does not rely on a host for nutrients. As a terrestrial plant, it establishes itself directly in the soil rather than growing as an epiphyte. In terms of stature, the plant typically reaches a mean height of 0.525 m, with individual specimens ranging from a minimum height of 0.45 m to a maximum height of 0.6 m.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.6 m

Plant height mean:

0.525 m

Plant height min:

0.45 m

Physiology

The physiological development of the foliage in Fritillaria monantha is characterized by specific morphometric dimensions that define its vegetative structure. The leaves exhibit a notable range in length, with a minimum measurement of 10 cm, a mean length of 11 cm, and a maximum extension reaching up to 12 cm. Complementing this longitudinal growth, the leaf width demonstrates significant variation, ranging from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum width of 2.8 cm. These dimensions reflect the plant's capacity for surface area optimization, facilitating efficient metabolic processes through its leaf architecture.

Leaf length max:

12 cm

Leaf length mean:

11 cm

Leaf length min:

10 cm

Leaf width max:

2.8 cm

Leaf width min:

1.5 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Fritillaria monantha culminates in the development of specialized fruit structures that play a critical role in its life cycle. The morphology of these fruits is characterized by a highly consistent dimension, as both the length and width exhibit minimal variation across specimens. Specifically, the fruit measurements remain uniform, with a mean length and width of 3 cm. This uniformity is reflected in the extreme values of the fruit's dimensions, where the minimum, maximum, and mean values for both fruit length and fruit width are all recorded at exactly 3 cm. Such precise morphological stability in the fruit size suggests a highly standardized reproductive outcome for the species.

Fruit length max:

3 cm

Fruit width max:

3 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Fritillaria monantha has 3 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 leaf, root, stem.

Leaf

1. Life (Basel, Switzerland)

Root

1. Life (Basel, Switzerland)

Stem

1. Life (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Fritillaria monantha has 20 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Puqiedinone, Ebeiedine, Ebeiedinone, Esterase, Hupehenine.

Puqiedinone

1. Steroids
2. Journal of natural products

Ebeiedine

1. Journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Ebeiedinone

1. Journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Esterase

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

Hupehenine

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Isoverticine

1. Journal of pharmaceutical sciences

N-demethylpuqietinone

1. Journal of natural products

PUQIENINE A

1. Journal of natural products

PUQIENINE B

1. Journal of natural products

Peimine

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Activities

Fritillaria monantha has 2 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antitussive, Expectorant.

Antitussive

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. Journal of natural products
3. Fitoterapia

Expectorant

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. Journal of natural products
3. Fitoterapia

Preparations

Fritillaria monantha has 2 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include bulbs, ethyl acetate fraction (EAF).

Bulbs

1. Journal of natural products

Ethyl acetate fraction (eaf)

1. Fitoterapia