Huperzia carinata

Huperzia carinata, commonly known as the Huperzia plant, is a significant medicinal species belonging to the Lycopodiaceae family. Renowned for its potent bioactive alkaloids, particularly huperzine A, it is widely studied for its neuroprotective properties and its potential to enhance cognitive function and treat various neurological disorders.

  • Scientific name: Huperzia carinata
  • Family: Lycopodiaceae
  • Native range: Asia-Temperate

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It falls under the subclass Lycopodiidae and the order Lycopodiales, specifically within the family Lycopodiaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Huperzia.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Lycopodiidae WCVP
Order Lycopodiales WCVP
Family Lycopodiaceae WCVP
Genus Huperzia WCVP

Common Names

This plant, scientifically known as Huperzia carinaata, is recognized by several common names depending on the linguistic context. In Traditional Chinese (zh-tw), it is referred to as 覆葉石松, which is identical to its naming in Simplified Chinese (zh) and its designation in Chinese Han traditional script (zh-hant).
Language Common Name Source
zh-tw 覆葉石松 Wikidata
zh 覆葉石松 Wikidata
zh-hant 覆葉石松 Wikidata

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several key regions within East Asia. In China, its presence is documented across the South-Central, North-Central, and Southeast territories. Its range also extends to the Nansei-shoto islands located in Eastern Asia. Additionally, the species can be found growing in Taiwan. Together, these locations define the specific geographical footprint of Huperzia carinaata.

Region Area Source
China China South-Central WCVP
China China North-Central WCVP
China China Southeast WCVP
Eastern Asia Nansei-shoto WCVP
Eastern Asia Taiwan WCVP
Indo-China Nicobar Is. WCVP
Indo-China Thailand WCVP
Indo-China Vietnam WCVP
Malesia Borneo WCVP
Malesia Malaya WCVP