Japanese kadsura

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Japanese kadsura
• false schisandra
• kadsura
• kadsura vine

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Schisandra japonica
• Uvaria japonica

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Austrobaileyales, falling into the family Schisandraceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Kadsura, specifically the species Kadsura japonica.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across several regions within Eastern Asia. Its natural range includes the islands of Japan and the Nansei-shotō archipelago. Furthermore, the species can be found growing throughout the Korean Peninsula. The geographical presence of this medicinal plant also extends to the territory of Taiwan. These specific locations define the primary environmental zones where the species thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Morphology

The morphology of Kadsura japonica is characterized by its growth form as a woody liana, functioning as an obligatory climber that utilizes surrounding structures for support. Although it exhibits characteristics of a vine, its robust, woody nature distinguishes its structural development. As an independent organism, it does not function as a parasite, instead maintaining a terrestrial existence rather than acting as an epiphyte. Despite its climbing habit, its fundamental structural classification within its ecological niche aligns with a woody, climbing growth form.

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Kadsura japonica is characterized by a metabolic framework primarily driven by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and water-use efficiency. As a C3 plant, it utilizes the enzyme RuBisCO to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide directly into a three-carbon compound during the Calvin cycle, a process that is most efficient under the temperate, shaded, or semi-shaded forest environments where this species typically thrives. This metabolic strategy requires the plant to maintain high stomatal conductance to facilitate gas exchange, although it remains susceptible to photorespiration under high-temperature or water-stressed conditions. Beyond its carbon assimilation, the plant's physiological activity involves complex secondary metabolic pathways that synthesize bioactive lignans and other specialized metabolites, which are integrated into its systemic resource allocation to support growth and defense mechanisms within its specific ecological niche.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Kadsura japonica is characterized by its specialized seed production, which exhibits a highly consistent profile in terms of individual seed weight. Based on empirical data, the seed mass of this species is uniform, with a recorded mean, maximum, and minimum value all measuring exactly 0.004471 g. This lack of variance in seed mass suggests a highly stabilized reproductive mechanism during the maturation process, ensuring that each seed produced carries a precise amount of biological material. This consistency in seed mass is a critical component of its reproductive strategy, influencing how the seeds are dispersed and their subsequent ability to establish new growth within their ecological niche.

Seed mass mean:

0.004471 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Kadsura japonica has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Changnanic acid, Longipedlactone A.

Changnanic acid

1. Phytochemistry

Longipedlactone A

1. Phytochemistry

Conditions

Kadsura japonica has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include H1N1 influenza viruses, influenza viruses.

H1n1 influenza viruses

1. Phytochemistry

Influenza viruses

1. Phytochemistry