Illigera parviflora

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Illigera parviflora, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Laurales and the family Hernandiaceae. Its specific taxonomic placement concludes within the genus Illigera.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread presence across several distinct regions of East and Southeast Asia. Within China, its distribution spans the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan territories. The species also extends into the Indo-China peninsula, where it can be found in Cambodia. Additionally, it is documented to grow within the borders of Vietnam. Consequently, its geographical range covers a diverse variety of subtropical landscapes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Illigera parviflora is characterized by a highly specific altitudinal niche, as it is consistently documented within a narrow elevational band. The species is found at a fixed elevation of 500 m AMSL, with its minimum, mean, and maximum elevational ranges all converging at this precise value. This suggests a specialized adaptation to specific environmental conditions found at this particular height above mean sea level, likely reflecting precise requirements for temperature, humidity, or soil composition characteristic of this mid-elevation zone.

Elevational range max:

500 m AMSL

Morphology

The morphology of Illigera parviflora is characterized by its growth habit as a woody liana, functioning as a climbing vine that requires external support to ascend. It is classified as an obligatory climber, meaning it lacks the structural capacity to be self-supporting and must utilize surrounding vegetation or structures to reach sunlight. The plant exhibits a distinct woody texture in its stems, which provides the necessary tensile strength and durability for its life as a perennial climbing organism.

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiological characteristics of the foliage in Illigera parviflora are defined by a specific range of morphological dimensions that influence its photosynthetic capacity and transpiration rates. The leaf architecture exhibits significant variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 7 cm to a maximum of 14 cm, maintaining a mean length of 10.5 cm. Complementing this longitudinal variation is a lateral spread where leaf widths fluctuate between a minimum of 3 cm and a maximum of 7 cm. These dimensional parameters suggest a flexible surface area adaptation, allowing the plant to optimize light interception and gas exchange within its ecological niche.

Leaf length max:

14 cm

Leaf length mean:

10.5 cm

Leaf length min:

7 cm

Leaf width max:

7 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Illigera parviflora is characterized by specific morphological dimensions of its flowering and fruiting structures. The plant produces inflorescences that typically range in length from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 0.2 m. Following pollination, the development of the fruit is marked by distinct size variations, with fruit lengths measuring at least 3.5 cm and reaching up to a maximum of 4.5 cm. On average, the fruit length maintains a mean value of 4 cm, serving as a key indicator of its reproductive maturity and successful development.

Fruit length max:

4.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

4 cm

Fruit length min:

3.5 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.2 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.1 m

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Illigera parviflora has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Actinodaphnine.

Actinodaphnine

1. Fitoterapia