Garcinia yunnanensis

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Malpighiales and the family Clusiaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Garcinia, specifically as the species Garcinia yunnanensis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily found within a specific region of East Asia. Its natural habitat is concentrated in the South-Central portion of China. This localized distribution suggests that the species thrives under the particular climatic conditions of that area. Consequently, researchers looking for this medicinal species should focus their efforts on these Chinese provinces. Understanding this narrow geographical range is essential for both conservation and sustainable harvesting.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Garcinia yunnanensis is characterized by its specific preference for high-altitude montane environments, where it occupies a distinct vertical niche within its habitat. This species thrives within a narrow elevational band, typically found at moderate to high altitudes that facilitate its growth requirements. Its distribution is strictly bounded by topographic constraints, ranging from a minimum elevation of 1300 m AMSL to a maximum height of 1600 m AMSL. The ecological center of its habitat is concentrated around a mean elevation of 1450 m AMSL, suggesting that the plant is highly adapted to the specific climatic, thermal, and moisture regimes unique to these mid-to-high altitude zones.

Elevational range max:

1600 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1450 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1300 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Garcinia yunnanensis is characterized by its status as a perennial species, meaning it persists through many growing seasons rather than completing its life cycle in a single year. As a long-lived woody plant, it establishes itself through initial germination and undergoes a prolonged vegetative growth phase to develop its structural canopy and extensive root system. Following this establishment, the plant enters a reproductive phase where it produces flowers and fruit, often following seasonal cues inherent to its tropical or subtropical habitat. Because it is perennial, the plant maintains its physiological functions and biomass over multiple years, allowing for repeated reproductive cycles throughout its lifespan, which contributes to its long-term presence in its natural ecosystem.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Garcinia yunnanensis is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree. This species typically achieves a significant stature, with an average plant height of approximately 17.5 m. In terms of its structural habit, the plant is classified as a self-supporting tree, possessing the necessary woodiness to maintain its upright posture without the need for external climbing supports.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

tree

Plant height mean:

17.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Garcinia yunnanensis is characterized by distinct vegetative morphology and specific nutritional metabolic processes. The foliage exhibits a significant range in dimensions, with leaf lengths typically averaging 12.5 cm, though they can fluctuate from a minimum of 9 cm to a maximum of 16 cm. Similarly, the leaf width shows notable variation, maintaining a mean width of 3.5 cm, with individual leaves measuring as narrow as 2 cm and as wide as 5 cm. In terms of nutrient acquisition and symbiotic relationships, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil through its root system rather than through atmospheric nitrogen fixation.

Leaf length max:

16 cm

Leaf length mean:

12.5 cm

Leaf length min:

9 cm

Leaf width max:

5 cm

Leaf width mean:

3.5 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Garcinia yunnanensis is characterized by its specific flowering structures, which emerge in inflorescences with lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.08 m to a maximum of 0.1 m. The individual flowers produced within these clusters exhibit consistent morphological dimensions, typically maintaining a length between 0.8 cm and 1 cm. These reproductive components are essential to the plant's life cycle, facilitating the transition from flowering to fruit development through these precisely sized floral structures.

Flower length max:

1 cm

Flower length min:

0.8 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.1 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.08 m

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Garcinia yunnanensis has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed.

Seed

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Chemicals

Garcinia yunnanensis has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Oblongifolin C, cycloxanthochymol, garcimultiflorone B.

Oblongifolin C

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

cycloxanthochymol

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

garcimultiflorone B

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Activities

Garcinia yunnanensis has 2 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Cytotoxic.

Antibacterial

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry