Hedera sinensis
Hedera sinensis · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Sparse (2 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆
, scientifically known as Hedera sinensis, is an evergreen climbing vine native to East Asia. Widely utilized in traditional medicine, this plant is primarily valued for its bioactive compounds, which possess significant antitussive and expectorant properties. It serves as a vital natural remedy for managing respiratory ailments and coughs.
- Family
- Not available
- Native range
- Asia-Temperate
- Parts used
- Leaf · Stem
- Common names
- Not available
- Scientific synonyms
- Not available
Names and Synonyms
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Hedera sinensisDistribution
This plant exhibits a widespread presence across several diverse regions of East and Southeast Asia. Within China, its distribution spans from the South-Central provinces to the North-Central territories. It is also commonly found throughout the Southeast regions of China and high within the Tibet plateau. Beyond Chinese borders, the species extends its range into the Indo-China peninsula. Specifically, it can be identified growing within the tropical landscapes of Laos.
| Region | Area |
|---|---|
| China | China South-Central |
| China | China North-Central |
| China | China Southeast |
| China | Tibet |
| Indo-China | Laos |
| Indo-China | Vietnam |
Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)
Botanical Identification
Morphology
The morphology of Hedera sineensis is characterized by its growth habit as an obligatory climber, utilizing specialized adventitious roots to ascend and adhere to vertical surfaces or host structures. It functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite, deriving all necessary nutrients and moisture through its own root system from the substrate. Furthermore, it is a terrestrial species, establishing its primary root system in the soil to secure stability and access nutrients as it climbs.
- Climber :
- obligatory
- Epiphyte :
- terrestrial
- Parasite :
- independent
Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)
Plant Parts
Hedera sinensis 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, stem.
| Plant part | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Leaf | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Stem | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Leaf
- Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
Stem
- Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials