August-lily

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• August-lily
• fragrant plantain-lily
• white plantain-lily
• Corfu Lily
• Scented hosta

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Saussurea japonica
• Libertia cernua var. septemnervis
• Funkia subcordata var. grandiflora
• Hosta plantaginea var. grandiflora
• Saussurea plantaginea
• Hemerocallis plantaginea
• Hemerocallis alba
• Hosta sieboldiana var. bracteata
• Funkia japonica var. subcordata
• Hosta plantaginea f. grandiflora
• Hosta plantaginea f. aphrodite
• Hosta plantaginea var. japonica
• Niobe plantaginea
• Hosta plantaginea f. stenantha
• Funkia legendrei
• Funkia subcordata
• Funkia grandiflora
• Funkia japonica
• Funkia cordata
• Funkia alba

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Hosta plantaginea, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae within the order Asparagales. Finally, it is a member of the family Asparagaceae and falls under the genus Hosta.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical range spanning several distinct regions across the continent. In Middle Europe, its presence is noted within the territories of Czechia and Slovakia. Moving toward Southeastern Europe, the species can be found in Romania, while it extends into Eastern Europe across South European Russia. The distribution also reaches into Central Asia, specifically within Uzbekistan. Finally, the range concludes in the South-Central regions of China.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Hosta plantaginea is characterized by its adaptation to specific altitudinal gradients within its natural habitat. This species thrives across a distinct elevational range, maintaining a presence in montane or sub-montane environments. The species reaches an elevational range maximum of 2200 m AMSL, which corresponds closely to its elevational range mean of 2200 m AMSL. This convergence of maximum and mean values suggests that the plant is highly specialized to these specific high-altitude zones, favoring the stable environmental conditions found consistently at this level. Such ecological positioning typically implies an adaptation to the specific temperature regimes, moisture availability, and light intensities prevalent at these elevations.

Elevational range max:

2200 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Hosta plantaginea is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons by regenerating from its underground structures. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennable buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or the substrate during dormant periods. This life form enables the species to thrive in temperate environments, transitioning from its dormant phase to vigorous vegetative growth each spring.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Hosta plantaaginea is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb, presenting a lush, herbaceous structure that lacks any woody tissue. It functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte, as it maintains a strictly terrestrial existence. The plant is self-supporting in its stature, lacking any climbing or vining habits such as lianas or facultative climbers. In terms of its ecological positioning regarding moisture, it is categorized as a terrestrial species, rather than being aquatic or semiaquatic.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiological development of Hosta plantagineea is characterized by significant morphological variation in its foliage, which serves as the primary site for photosynthetic activity and nutrient assimilation. The leaves exhibit a dynamic range of dimensions, with mean leaf lengths measuring approximately 19 cm, though individual specimens fluctuate between a minimum of 14 cm and a maximum of 24 cm. This longitudinal variability is complemented by a distinct breadth in the laminar surface; leaf widths range from a minimum of 8 cm to a maximum of 16 cm, facilitating an expansive surface area for light interception. These structural parameters are critical to the plant's metabolic efficiency, as the varying dimensions of the leaf blades directly influence the transpiration rates and the overall capacity for biomass accumulation within its physiological framework.

Leaf length max:

24 cm

Leaf length mean:

19 cm

Leaf length min:

14 cm

Leaf width max:

16 cm

Leaf width min:

8 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Hosta plantaginea is characterized by the development of distinct fruit structures and specialized seed properties. The fruit produced by this species maintains a consistent morphology, with a mean length of 6 cm, which aligns with both its minimum and maximum recorded lengths of 6 cm. In terms of width, the fruit is equally uniform, exhibiting a mean, minimum, and maximum width of 1 cm. Following the maturation of these fruits, the plant produces seeds that are highly consistent in their physical properties; the seed mass is recorded at a constant value, with a mean, minimum, and maximum mass of 0.00658 g. This uniformity in both fruit dimensions and seed mass suggests a highly stabilized reproductive output for the species.

Fruit length max:

6 cm

Fruit width max:

1 cm

Seed mass mean:

0.00658 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Hosta plantaginea has 1 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower.

Flower

1. Fitoterapia
2. Natural product research
3. Chemistry & biodiversity
4. RSC advances
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Hosta plantaginea has 12 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, 10-O-methylhostasine, 4-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID, 8-Demethoxyhostasine, 8-demethoxy-10-O-methylhostasine.

Flavonoids

1. RSC advances
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Chemistry & biodiversity

10-O-methylhostasine

1. Journal of natural products

4-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID

1. Natural product research

8-Demethoxyhostasine

1. Journal of natural products

8-demethoxy-10-O-methylhostasine

1. Journal of natural products

9-O-Demethyl-7-O-methyllycorenine

1. Journal of natural products

ETHYL ACETATE

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Fatty acids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hostasine

1. Journal of natural products

Kaempferol 3-O-sophoroside 7-O-glucoside

1. Natural product research

Activities

Hosta plantaginea has 4 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Analgesic, Antibacterial, Hepatoprotective.

Antioxidant

1. Natural product research
2. RSC advances

Analgesic

1. RSC advances

Antibacterial

1. RSC advances

Hepatoprotective

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Medicinal Uses

Hosta plantaginea has 12 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include acute lung injury, analgesic, benign prostatic hyperplasia, cough, hoarseness.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations