Heptapleurum heptaphyllum

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad presence across several key regions of East Asia. In China, its distribution spans the South-Central and Southeast territories, as well as the high-altitude areas of Tibet. Moving further east, the species is also found throughout the islands of Japan. Additionally, it inhabits the Nansei-shoto island chain within Eastern Asia. Together, these locations define the natural range where the species can be located.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Heptapleurum heptaphyllum is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth strategy, it functions as a phanerophyte, possessing elevated stems that protect its buds, while also exhibiting traits consistent with a nanophanerophyte due to its specific growth habit and scale. Throughout its existence, the plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and present across various seasonal transitions.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Heptapleurum heptaphyllum is characterized by a woody growth form, manifesting as a substantial tree that can reach a mean height of 20 m. As a self-supporting species, it does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, nor does it exhibit epiphytic or parasitic behaviors, maintaining an independent and terrestrial lifestyle.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

20 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Heptapleurum heptaphyllum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes. The plant exhibits specific morphological leaf traits, featuring elliptic leaf forms with entire margins, and it lacks both leaf thorns and leaf spines. Its leaf architecture is defined by a consistent Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 107.3377694 cm²/g across its minimum, mean, and maximum values, indicating a highly uniform leaf density and surface area relationship. Structurally, the stem maintains a mean stem specific density (SSD) of 450 mg/cm³. Furthermore, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nutrient availability for its nitrogen requirements.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) min:

107.3377694 cm²/g

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

450 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Heptapleurum heptaphyllum is characterized by the production of fleshy fruits, which play a critical role in its reproductive strategy. The seeds produced by this species are uniform in size and weight, with a consistent seed volume of 8.2 mm³ and a mean seed mass of 0.0056 g; notably, the minimum and maximum recorded values for both volume and mass remain constant at these figures. The dispersal syndrome of the plant is classified as zoochorous, meaning it relies on animals for the distribution of its seeds, a process facilitated by the moisture-rich, fleshy nature of the fruit.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Seed mass mean:

0.0056 g

Seed volume max:

8.2 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Heptapleurum heptaphyllum has 1 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Phytochemistry
3. Journal of separation science

Chemicals

Heptapleurum heptaphyllum has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include betulinic acid.

betulinic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Heptapleurum heptaphyllum has 18 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anthelmintic, AntiHIV, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Anticarcinomic.

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiedemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Antileukemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antimalarial

1. Dr. Duke

Antimelanomic

1. Dr. Duke

Preparations

Heptapleurum heptaphyllum has 4 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include bark, extracts, health tea formulation, leaves.

Bark

1. Phytochemistry

Extracts

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Health tea formulation

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Leaves

1. Phytochemistry