South-Asian kadsura

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• South-Asian kadsura

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Kadsura polysperma
• Uvaria heteroclita
• Schisandra crassifolia
• Sphaerostema blumeana
• Kadsura acuminata
• Kadsura roxburghiana var. macrocarpa
• Kadsura billitonensis
• Kadsura wightiana
• Kadsura interior
• Kadsura wattii
• Kadsura parvifolia
• Kadsura championii

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Austrobaileyales and the family Schisandraceae. Its scientific classification concludes with the genus Kadsura.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread presence across several specific regions in East and South Asia. In China, its distribution spans from the South-Central areas to the Southeast provinces. Additionally, it can be found growing on the tropical island of Hainan. The species also extends into Eastern Asia, specifically inhabiting the island of Taiwan. Finally, its range reaches the Indian Subcontinent, where it is documented in the Assam region.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Kadsuara heteroclita is characterized by its ability to thrive across a diverse altitudinal gradient, demonstrating significant adaptability to varying environmental conditions. This species is typically found distributed within an elevational range that spans from a minimum of 270 m AMSL to a maximum of 2500 m AMSL. This broad vertical distribution allows the plant to occupy various ecological niches, ranging from lowland tropical or subtropical environments to higher-altitude montane ecosystems. Such a wide range suggests that the species can tolerate fluctuations in temperature, atmospheric pressure, and moisture levels associated with increasing elevations, making it a resilient component of its native habitats.

Elevational range max:

2500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

270 m AMSL

Morphology

The morphology of Kadsura heteroclita is characterized by its robust growth habit as a woody liana, functioning as an obligatory climber that utilizes surrounding structures for support. Although it exhibits a growth form often associated with shrubs in certain developmental stages, its primary structural identity is that of a climbing vine. The plant is non-parasitic, operating as an independent organism that relies on its own metabolic processes rather than a host. Furthermore, it is a terrestrial species, establishing its root system in the soil rather than growing as an epiphyte.

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Kadsura heteroclita is characterized by a metabolic framework governed by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and environmental adaptations. As a C3 plant, the initial fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide occurs via the enzyme Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) within the mesophyll cells, leading to the direct production of a three-carbon compound, 3-phosphoglycerate. This metabolic strategy implies that the plant relies on efficient stomatal conductance to facilitate gas exchange, making its physiological performance closely tied to moisture availability and ambient temperature. The energy conversion process is driven by light-dependent reactions that generate ATP and NADPH, which are subsequently utilized in the Calvin cycle to synthesize carbohydrates. This specific photosynthetic mechanism influences the plant's overall water-use efficiency and its capacity to thrive in the humid, shaded forest understories where it is typically found.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Kadsura heteroclita is characterized by the production of small, specialized seeds that play a critical role in its propagation cycle. Quantitative analysis of its reproductive output reveals a highly consistent seed morphology, with the seed mass exhibiting no variance across sampled specimens. The seed mass maintains a mean value of 0.00914 g, which is identical to both its maximum and minimum recorded values of 0.00914 g. This uniformity in seed mass suggests a highly stabilized reproductive strategy, ensuring that each individual seed carries a consistent nutrient reserve to support early seedling development.

Seed mass mean:

0.00914 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Kadsura heteroclita 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 stem.

Stem

1. Journal of Asian natural products research
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
5. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Kadsura heteroclita has 18 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Angeloylgomisin-R, Gomisin A, Gomisin C, Gomisin G, Heteroclitin D.

Angeloylgomisin-R

1. Journal of natural products

Gomisin A

1. Journal of natural products

Gomisin C

1. Journal of natural products

Gomisin G

1. Journal of natural products

Heteroclitin D

1. Journal of natural products

Heteroclitin F

1. Journal of natural products

Interiorin

1. Journal of natural products

Interiotherin A

1. Journal of natural products

Interiotherin B

1. Journal of natural products

Interiotherins A

1. Journal of natural products

Activities

Kadsura heteroclita has 1 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic.

Analgesic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Kadsura heteroclita has 6 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include rheumatoid arthritis, HIV, cancer, hepatitis, inflammation.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations