Hemionitis tenuifolia

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cheilanthes tenuifolia
• Oeosporangium tenuifolium
• Cheilanthes hispidula
• Cheilanthes sciadioides
• Cheilanthes shirleyana
• Cheilanthes tenuifolia subsp. queenslandica
• Cheilanthes tenuifolia subsp. shirleyana
• Notholaena glabra
• Notholaena semiglabra
• Pellaea depilata
• Pteris alpina
• Pteris humilis
• Pteris nigra
• Trichomanes tenuifolium
• Adiantum tenuifolium
• Cheilosoria tenuifolia
• Cassebeera tenuifolia
• Cheilanthes humilis
• Cheilanthes semiglabra
• Notholaena hirsuta var. glabra
• Notholaena sciadioides
• Adiantum cicutifolium
• Adiantum varians
• Acrostichum tenue
• Allosorus depilatus
• Cheilosoria javensis
• Gymnogramma microphylloides

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 Polypodiinae and order Polypodiales, it is situated in the family Pteridaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement in the genus Hemionitis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical presence across several key regions in Asia. In China, its distribution is quite widespread, stretching from the South-Central provinces to the Southeast. It can also be found on the tropical island of Hainan within the Chinese territory. Furthermore, the species is documented in Eastern Asia, specifically on the island of Taiwan. Finally, its range extends into the Indian Subcontinent, where it is known to grow in Assam.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Hemionitis tenuifolia is characterized by its occurrence within specific low-altitude environments, maintaining a very narrow elevational range that is fixed at 270 m AMSL. This species is specifically adapted to habitats consisting of maquis (scrubland), dense secondary shrublands, and rude-ral vegetation, where it thrives amidst disturbed or transitional plant communities.

Elevational range max:

270 m AMSL

Habitat :

maquis (scrubland), dense secondary shrub and ruderal vegetation

Life history

The life history of Hemionitis tenuifolia is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural adaptation and survival strategy, the species functions as a hemicryptophyte, maintaining its perennial existence by sheltering its overwintering buds at or just below the soil surface. This specific life form ensures its resilience within its ecological niche, utilizing its hemicryptophytic nature to navigate seasonal transitions and sustain its biological processes over an extended period.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Hemionitis tenuifolia is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. As a self-supporting plant, it does not exhibit climbing or liana-like behavior, nor does it function as a climber. It is an independent species that is neither a parasite nor an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence rather than occupying aquatic or semiaquatic niches. The plant is relatively low-growing, with a stature that does not exceed a maximum height of 0.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.5 m

Plant height min:

0 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Hemionitis tenuifolia is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which facilitates carbon fixation through the standard Calvin cycle. The plant exhibits non-succulent morphology, lacking specialized water-storage tissues in its vegetative structures. Its leaf dimensions are variable, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 7 cm to a maximum of 20 cm. Furthermore, the leaf width is physiologically constrained between a minimum of 7 cm and a maximum of 10 cm, defining the overall surface area available for gas exchange and light interception.

Leaf length max:

20 cm

Leaf length min:

7 cm

Leaf width max:

10 cm

Leaf width min:

7 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Hemionitis tenuifolia is characterized by specific dispersal mechanisms that facilitate its propagation within its natural habitat. The plant utilizes an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, relying primarily on the movement of wind to transport its reproductive units across distances. This anemochorous strategy is the dominant method for spreading its progeny, ensuring that seeds can be distributed away from the parent plant to colonize new areas.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Hemionitis tenuifolia 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 leaf.

Leaf

1. Immunity, inflammation and disease

Activities

Hemionitis tenuifolia has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic.

Analgesic

1. Immunity, inflammation and disease

Preparations

Hemionitis tenuifolia has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include methanol leaf extract.

Methanol leaf extract

1. Immunity, inflammation and disease