Sichuan fritillary

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Sichuan fritillary

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Liliales. Ultimately, it is a member of the family Liliaceae and falls under the genus Fritillaria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across several regions within China. It is primarily found throughout the South-Central areas of the country. Additionally, its presence extends into the North-Central provinces. The species also inhabits the high-altitude landscapes of Qinghai. Together, these locations define the core geographical range of Fritillaria unibracteata.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Fritillaria unibracteata is strictly defined by its specialized high-altitude habitat within alpine ecosystems. This species thrives within a specific vertical distribution, occupying montane and subalpine zones where environmental conditions are characterized by intense solar radiation and significant temperature fluctuations. Its ecological niche is constrained to a precise elevational range, typically found at a minimum altitude of 3200 m AMSL. The species reaches its maximum ecological limit at an elevation of 4500 m AMSL, with its most frequent occurrences and optimal growing conditions clustered around a mean elevation of 3850 m AMSL. These high-altitude parameters suggest an adaptation to thin soils, rocky substrates, and the unique climatic stressors characteristic of extreme mountain environments.

Elevational range max:

4500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

3850 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

3200 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Fritillaria unibracteata is characterized by its status as a cryptophyte, specifically functioning as a geophyte. This classification indicates that the plant survives unfavorable environmental periods, such as extreme temperatures or seasonal drought, by retreating to underground storage organs. As a geophyte, its vital parts are sequestered beneath the soil surface, typically within a bulb, which allows it to remain dormant during periods of environmental stress and emerge rapidly when favorable conditions return. This survival strategy facilitates a predictable seasonal cycle of growth, flowering, and senescence, driven by the energy reserves stored within its subterranean structures.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Fritillaria uniarmata is characterized by a compact growth habit, with the plant reaching a mean height of 0.19 m, typically ranging from a minimum of 0.15 m to a maximum of 0.23 m. It functions as a self-supporting plant, lacking any climbing mechanisms, and maintains an independent lifestyle without being parasitic on other organisms. As a terrestrial species, it grows directly in the soil rather than as an epiphyte.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.23 m

Plant height mean:

0.19 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Physiology

The physiological characteristics of the foliage in Fritillaria unibracteata are defined by a specific range of leaf dimensions that reflect its morphological adaptation. The leaves exhibit a notable variation in length, with minimum measurements recorded at 3.6 cm and a mean length of 4.55 cm, reaching a maximum extent of 5.5 cm. Complementing this longitudinal dimension is a narrow width profile, where the leaf width spans from a minimum of 0.3 cm to a maximum of 0.5 cm. These precise measurements characterize the narrow, linear structural properties of the plant's photosynthetic organs.

Leaf length max:

5.5 cm

Leaf length mean:

4.55 cm

Leaf length min:

3.6 cm

Leaf width max:

0.5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.3 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Fritillaria unibracteata is characterized by the development of distinct fruit structures that exhibit specific morphological dimensions. The fruits produced by this species vary in size, with recorded lengths ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 1.5 cm, maintaining an average fruit length of approximately 1.25 cm. In terms of width, the fruits demonstrate a similar range of variability, measuring as narrow as 1 cm at their minimum and reaching a maximum width of 1.2 cm, which results in a mean fruit width of 1.1 cm. These dimensional parameters define the physical profile of the fruit during its maturation process.

Fruit length max:

1.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.25 cm

Fruit length min:

1 cm

Fruit width max:

1.2 cm

Fruit width mean:

1.1 cm

Fruit width min:

1 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Fritillaria unibracteata has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Imperialine, Peiminine, Peimisine.

Imperialine

1. Phytochemistry

Peiminine

1. Phytochemistry

Peimisine

1. Phytochemistry

Activities

Fritillaria unibracteata has 4 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antitumor, Antitussive, Expectorant.

Antibacterial

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antitumor

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antitussive

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Expectorant

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Conditions

Fritillaria unibracteata has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include asthma, cough.

Asthma

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

Cough

1. Phytochemistry

Preparations

Fritillaria unibracteata has 4 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include bulbs, F. unibracteata herbs, bulb, dried bulbs.

Bulbs

1. Journal of Asian natural products research
2. Analytica chimica acta

F. unibracteata herbs

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

Bulb

1. Phytochemistry

Dried bulbs

1. Frontiers in pharmacology