prickly castor oil tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• castor-aralia
• castor-leaved aralia
• tree-aralia
• castor aralia
• prickly castor oil tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Acanthopanax septemlobus
• Eleutherococcus septemlobus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is further categorized under the order Apiales and the family Araliaceae. Its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Kalopanax.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution spanning several key regions across East Asia. In the Russian Far East, its range extends from the Kuril Islands to the Sakhalin region. It is also commonly found within the territory of Primorye in the same Russian district. Moving into China, the species is documented throughout the Manchuria region. Additionally, its presence reaches into the South-Central parts of China.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Kalopanax septemlobus is characterized by its preference for specific montane environments, primarily occupying forest and forest edges. This species is restricted to high-altitude zones, maintaining an elevational range that begins at 1800 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 2000 m AMSL. By thriving in these forested habitats and along the transitional margins of forest edges, the plant occupies a niche defined by the unique microclimates and soil conditions found within these specific elevational belts.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1800 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, forest edges

Life history

The life history of Kalopanax septemlobus is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, ensuring its presence in the ecosystem through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, specifically categorized within the phanerophyte life forms, its regenerative buds are elevated well above the ground level, typically on woody stems or branches. The plant exhibits a deciduous habit, meaning it sheds its foliage annually in response to seasonal changes, transitioning through distinct phases of leaf development and dormancy. This combination of a long-lived perennial lifecycle and a deciduous phanerophyte life form allows the species to establish a stable, woody presence in its habitat while adapting to seasonal climatic shifts.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Kalopanax septemlobus is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree, reaching significant dimensions in the forest canopy. It functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor as an epiphyte, maintaining a terrestrial existence. The plant is self-supporting rather than a climber, liana, or vine, and it does not exhibit aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies. In terms of stature, this species is a substantial woody plant that can achieve a plant height ranging from a minimum of 10 meters to a maximum of 23 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

23 m

Plant height min:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Kalopanax septemlobus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant's vegetative structure features a quinquilobate leaf form, where the leaf is divided into seven distinct lobes, and the leaf margins are finely toothed. Structurally, the foliage is smooth and lacks defensive physical adaptations, as it possesses no leaf thorns and no leaf spines. Furthermore, the plant exhibits a specific stem density (SSD) with a mean value of 452 mg/cm³, reflecting its internal wood density and structural composition.

Leaf form :

quinquilobate

Leaf margin :

finely toothed

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

452 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Kalopanax septemlobus is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering window and the production of distinct fleshy fruits. The flowering period typically begins in July and concludes in August. Following pollination, the plant develops fleshy fruits that contain seeds with highly consistent volumetric dimensions, maintaining a recorded seed volume of 10 mm³ (with both minimum and maximum values, as well as the mean, remaining constant at this measurement). The seeds themselves are quite lightweight, with a mean seed mass of 0.00178 g, though they can vary slightly between a minimum of 0.00126 g and a maximum of 0.0023 g.

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Seed mass max:

0.0023 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00178 g

Seed mass min:

0.00126 g

Seed volume max:

10 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Kalopanax septemlobus has 3 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 root, stem, leaf.

Root

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
2. Fitoterapia

Stem

1. Fitoterapia
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Leaf

1. Fitoterapia

Chemicals

Kalopanax septemlobus has 11 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include OLEANOLIC ACID, Saponins, BETA-SITOSTEROL, Coronatine, Hederagenin.

OLEANOLIC ACID

1. Plant & cell physiology
2. 3 Biotech

Saponins

1. Fitoterapia
2. 3 Biotech

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Coronatine

1. 3 Biotech

Hederagenin

1. Plant & cell physiology

Kalopanaxsaponin A

1. Fitoterapia

Liriodendrin

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

beta-Daucosterol

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

trans-caffeic acid

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

trans-coniferyl aldehyde

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Activities

Kalopanax septemlobus has 2 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antifungal, Antioxidant.

Antifungal

1. Fitoterapia

Antioxidant

1. Fitoterapia

Medicinal Uses

Kalopanax septemlobus has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include rheumatoid arthritis.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations