Kopsia arborea

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Kopsia pitardii
• Kopsia jasminiflora
• Kopsia officinalis
• Kopsia lancibracteolata
• Kopsia laxinervia
• Kopsia scortechinii
• Kopsia pruniformis

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Gentianales, it is classified under the family Apocynaceae. Ultimately, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Kopsia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning several key regions across Asia. Within China, it can be found growing in the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan areas. Its range extends into the Indo-China region, specifically covering the islands of the Andaman archipelago. Additionally, the species is documented to inhabit the landscape of Laos. Together, these locations highlight the specific environmental niches where the plant thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Kopsia arborea is characterized by its classification as a phanerophyte, a growth form where the perennating buds are located high above the ground on woody stems. Within this classification, the species exhibits specific life form variations, specifically functioning as both a phanerophyte and a nanophanerophyte, which indicates that while it maintains a tree-like structure, its stature can vary in scale within its ecological niche. This perennial life cycle allows the plant to establish a persistent woody framework, ensuring long-term survival through successive growing seasons by protecting its regenerative tissues well above the soil surface.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Kopsia arborea is characterized by its woody structure and diverse growth potential, functioning primarily as a self-supporting tree or shrub. It is a terrestrial plant, existing independently without parasitic dependencies, and is not classified as an aquatic or semiaquatic species. Depending on its developmental stage and environmental conditions, the plant can exhibit a growth form ranging from a shrub to a larger tree, reaching a maximum plant height of approximately 15 meters. While it possesses a woody habit, it does not function as an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial life cycle rather than growing upon other hosts as a hemi-epiphyte or holoepiphyte. Furthermore, it is a self-supporting organism rather than a climber, liana, or vine.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Kopsia arborea is characterized by its metabolic processes, most notably its photosynthetic pathway, which follows the C3 mechanism. As a C3 plant, its carbon fixation process occurs primarily through the Calvin cycle, where atmospheric carbon dioxide is directly incorporated into a three-carbon compound by the enzyme RuBisCO within the mesophyll cells. This metabolic strategy is typical of many woody tropical species, allowing the plant to efficiently manage gas exchange and energy production under the shaded or semi-shaded forest environments it typically inhabits. The efficiency of this C3 pathway dictates the plant's water-use efficiency and its response to varying light intensities and ambient temperatures, shaping its overall growth patterns and resource allocation strategies.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Kopsia arborea has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include stem, leaf.

Stem

1. Fitoterapia
2. Journal of natural products

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Kopsia arborea has 20 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include valparicine, 19(R)-methoxytubotaiwine, 19(S)-methoxytubotaiwine, Apparicine, Arboflorine.

valparicine

1. The Alkaloids. Chemistry and biology
2. Journal of natural products

19(R)-methoxytubotaiwine

1. Journal of natural products

19(S)-methoxytubotaiwine

1. Journal of natural products

Apparicine

1. The Alkaloids. Chemistry and biology

Arboflorine

1. Organic letters

Arboridinine

1. The Alkaloids. Chemistry and biology

Arborisidine

1. The Alkaloids. Chemistry and biology

Arbornamine

1. The Alkaloids. Chemistry and biology

Kopsamidine A

1. Journal of natural products

Kopsamidine B

1. Journal of natural products

Preparations

Kopsia arborea has 1 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include stem-bark extract.

Stem-bark extract

1. Journal of natural products