Ilex chinensis

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ilex purpurea var. myriadenia
• Ilex purpurea var. nervosa
• Ilex oldhamii
• Symplocos courtoisii
• Celastrus bodinieri
• Embelia rubroviolacea
• Ilex chinensis f. angustifolia
• Callicarpa cavaleriei
• Ilex jinggangshanensis
• Ilex purpurea var. oldhamii
• Ilex myriadenia
• Ilex purpurea

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

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

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is native to several distinct regions across East and Southeast Asia. In mainland China, its presence is primarily noted throughout the South-Central and Southeast provinces. The species also extends its range into the island of Taiwan. Beyond the Chinese mainland, it can be found growing in Japan within Eastern Asia. Finally, its geographical reach includes the Indo-China region, specifically in Vietnam.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Ilex chinensis is characterized by its nature as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. As an evergreen plant, it maintains its foliage throughout the year, providing continuous photosynthetic activity and a stable structural presence in its habitat regardless of the season.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ilex chinensis is characterized by a robust growth form, primarily existing as a woody tree. It is a self-supporting species that does not exhibit climbing behavior, such as being a liana or vine, nor does it function as a climber. In terms of its ecological habit, the plant is terrestrial, lacking aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies, and it functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite. Furthermore, it is not an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. The structural integrity of the plant is defined by its woody nature, providing the necessary stability for its arboreal stature.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ile x chinensis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes. The plant's leaf morphology features an elliptic form with finely toothed margins, notably lacking both leaf thorns and leaf spines. Resource allocation and leaf structural efficiency can be assessed through its Specific Leaf Area (SLA), which exhibits a minimum value of 143.6047896 cm²/g, a maximum value of 180.6287945 cm²/g, and a mean value of 162.11679205 cm²/g. Furthermore, the structural integrity and density of its woody components are reflected in a mean stem specific density (SSD) of 785 mg/cm³.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf margin :

finely toothed

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) max:

180.6287945 cm²/g

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

162.11679205 cm²/g

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) min:

143.6047896 cm²/g

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

785 mg/cm³

Reproduction

Reproduction in Ilex chinensis is characterized by the production of small, specialized seeds that play a critical role in the plant's life cycle and dispersal mechanisms. Morphological analysis of the seeds reveals a highly consistent physical profile with no observed variance in weight within the studied parameters. The seed mass is precisely recorded at a mean of 0.009 g, a value that is mirrored by both the maximum and minimum recorded seed mass measurements of 0.009 g. This uniformity in seed mass suggests a stabilized reproductive output where each individual seed contains a highly standardized amount of nutrient reserves, facilitating predictable germination patterns within its natural habitat.

Seed mass mean:

0.009 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Ilex chinensis has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Glycosides, Pedunculoside, Rutundic acid, Ziyuglycoside I.

Flavonoids

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Glycosides

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Pedunculoside

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Rutundic acid

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Ziyuglycoside I

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

triterpenoids

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica