Zhejiang fritillary

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Zhejiang fritillary
• fritillary

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Uvularia cirrhosa
• Fritillaria thunbergii var. chekiangensis
• Fritillaria xiaobeimu
• Fritillaria verticillata var. thunbergii
• Fritillaria collicola
• Fritillaria chekiangensis
• Fritillaria austroanhuiensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, situated within the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified under the order Liliales and the family Liliaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Fritillaria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical range spanning several distinct regions across Asia. In Central Asia, its presence is specifically noted within the borders of Kazakhstan. Its distribution extends into China, where it can be found in both the Xinjiang region and the Southeast. Moving toward Eastern Asia, the species is also native to the islands of Japan. Finally, the plant completes its regional spread by occurring naturally in Korea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Fritillaria thunbergii is characterized by its specialized survival strategy as a cryptophyte, specifically functioning as a geophyte. This means that during the unfavorable dormant seasons, the plant survives through underground storage organs, typically in the form of bulbs, which protect its vital tissues from environmental stressors such as extreme temperatures or desiccation. As a geophyte, its vegetative growth is concentrated beneath the soil surface, allowing it to emerge and undergo its seasonal cycle of leaf development and flowering once favorable conditions return. This life form enables the plant to maintain a perennial existence by relying on nutrient reserves stored within its bulb to fuel rapid growth during the active period of its life cycle.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Fritillaria thubergii is characterized by its herbaceous, non-woody structure, functioning as a self-supporting plant that does not require climbing mechanisms. As a terrestrial species, it grows independently and is not parasitic in nature. The plant typically reaches a mean height of 0.65 m, though individual specimens can vary in stature, with heights ranging from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 0.8 m.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.8 m

Plant height mean:

0.65 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiological development of Fritillaria thubergii is characterized by distinct morphological variations in its foliage, which play a critical role in its photosynthetic capacity and resource acquisition. The leaves exhibit a significant range in dimensions, with mean leaf lengths recorded at approximately 9 cm. These structures can vary from a minimum length of 7 cm to a maximum length of up to 11 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 1 cm and a maximum of 2.5 cm, reflecting a slender, linear physiological profile. This specific leaf geometry, characterized by its elongated and narrow dimensions, optimizes the plant's surface area for light interception while managing transpiration rates within its natural habitat.

Leaf length max:

11 cm

Leaf length mean:

9 cm

Leaf length min:

7 cm

Leaf width max:

2.5 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Fritillaria thubergii is characterized by the development of distinct fruit structures that exhibit specific morphological dimensions. The fruit displays a consistent width, maintaining a constant value of 2.5 cm across its minimum, mean, and maximum measurements. In contrast, the fruit length shows slight variability, ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 2.2 cm, with an average length of 2.1 cm. These precise dimensions in fruit width and length are critical indicators of the plant's reproductive success and maturity.

Fruit length max:

2.2 cm

Fruit length mean:

2.1 cm

Fruit length min:

2 cm

Fruit width max:

2.5 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Fritillaria thunbergii 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, seed.

Leaf

1. The plant pathology journal

Seed

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

Chemicals

Fritillaria thunbergii has 44 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Peimine, Peiminine, Peimisine, Verticine, Zhebeinine.

Peimine

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC plant biology
3. BMC genomics
4. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Peiminine

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC plant biology
3. BMC genomics
4. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Peimisine

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC genomics

Verticine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Zhebeinine

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

verticinone

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Aflatoxin B(1)

1. Food chemistry

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

CAMPESTEROL

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Fritillaria thunbergii has 208 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antioxidant, Expectorant, ACE-Inhibitor, Additive.

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Expectorant

1. Fitoterapia
2. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Additive

1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic

1. Dr. Duke

Anesthetic

1. Dr. Duke

Angiogenic

1. Dr. Duke

Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

Anorexic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Fritillaria thunbergii has 11 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include expectorant, antitussive, bronchitis, cough, coughs.

Expectorant

1. Fitoterapia
2. Planta medica

Antitussive

1. Planta medica

Bronchitis

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Cough

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Coughs

1. Microorganisms

Diarrhea

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Gastric ulcers

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Hypertension

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Inflammation

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Platelet aggregation

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

Preparations

Fritillaria thunbergii has 2 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Fritillaria drug, bulbs.

Fritillaria drug

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Bulbs

1. BMC plant biology