panicled goldenrain tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Pride-Of-India
• goldenrain-tree
• varnishtree
• Golden-Rain Tree
• Pride-Of-China
• golden rain tree
• Panicled Goldenrain Tree
• Pride of India

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Koelreuteria paniculata var. apiculata
• Koelreuteria bipinnata var. apiculata
• Koelreuteria paniculata f. miyagiensis
• Koelreuteria paniculata var. fastigiata
• Koelreuteria paniculata f. fastigiata
• Koelreuteria paniculata var. lixianensis
• Koelreuteria paullinoides
• Koelreuteria chinensis
• Sapindus chinensis
• Koelreuteria apiculata
• Koelreuteria japonica
• Paullinia aurea
• Sapindus paniculata

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 within the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Sapindales. Finally, it is a member of the family Sapindaceae, falling within the genus Koelreuteria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across several European regions. In Northern Europe, its presence can be found within Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, the species is documented in Austria. It also inhabits the territories of both Czechia and Slovakia. Furthermore, its range extends through Germany and Hungary.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Koelreuteria paniculata is characterized by its adaptability to diverse environmental conditions, typically thriving in open, sunny habitats such as forest edges, disturbed sites, and riparian zones. It plays a significant role in its ecosystem as a nectar source for various pollinators, including bees and butterflies, which facilitates its reproductive success. Regarding its vertical distribution, the species occupies a specific altitudinal niche, with an elevational range that reaches a mean of 1800 m AMSL. This ability to persist at mid-to-high elevations suggests a tolerance for varying temperature gradients and varying levels of moisture availability within its native and naturalized ranges.

Elevational range mean:

1800 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Koelreuteria paniculata is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its long-term presence within its ecological niche through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, the species maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated structures, specifically large woody stems that rise significantly above the ground level. This growth habit is complemented by its deciduous nature, as the plant undergoes a seasonal shedding of its foliage, a physiological adaptation that often aids in moisture conservation or survival during dormant periods. This combination of a perennial lifecycle, a phanerophyte life form, and deciduousness defines its structural development and seasonal rhythm.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Koeleuria paniculata is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that functions as a self-supporting structure. It is a terrestrial species that grows independently, without acting as a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant reaches significant dimensions, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 5 m to a maximum of 15 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 14 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15 m

Plant height mean:

14 m

Plant height min:

5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Koeleuria paniculata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy common to many woody dicots that utilizes the Calvin cycle to fix carbon dioxide directly through the enzyme Rubisco. This pathway involves the initial fixation of CO2 into a three-carbon compound, which typically dictates the plant's water-use efficiency and environmental adaptation strategies in temperate to subtropical climates. Furthermore, the structural physiology of the plant is reflected in its wood anatomy and biomass characteristics, evidenced by a mean stem specific density (SSD) of 778 mg/cm³. This density value indicates a relatively robust wood structure, contributing to the plant's mechanical stability and its ability to support its physiological functions and reproductive growth.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

778 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Koelreuteria paniculata is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering period that begins in July and concludes in August. The plant produces fruit in the form of a capsule, which is a dehiscent structure. These capsules typically range in length from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 6 cm, with an average fruit length of approximately 5 cm. Within these fruits, the seeds vary in mass, with a minimum weight of 0.048 g, a maximum of 0.1667 g, and a mean seed mass of approximately 0.1358 g. Regarding the movement of its progeny, the species utilizes an unspecialized dispersal syndrome.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit length max:

6 cm

Fruit length mean:

5 cm

Fruit length min:

4 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Seed mass max:

0.1667 g

Seed mass mean:

0.135797143 g

Seed mass min:

0.048 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Koelreuteria paniculata has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower, seed.

Flower

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

Seed

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Koelreuteria paniculata has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Gallic acid, CATECHIN, Glycosides, RUTIN, Sitosterol glucoside.

Gallic acid

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

CATECHIN

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Glycosides

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

RUTIN

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Sitosterol glucoside

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

Terpenoids

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

ellagic acid

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

polyphenols

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Preparations