border-privet

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• border-privet
• Amur River privet
• border privet

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ligustrum obtusifolium subsp. suave
• Ligustrum ibota subvar. spathulatum
• Ligustrum regelianum
• Ligustrum obtusifolium subsp. obtusifolium
• Ligustrum ibota var. microphyllum
• Ligustrum ibota var. suave
• Ligustrum ciliatum var. spathulatum
• Ligustrum ibota var. tschonoskii
• Ligustrum ibota var. diabolicum
• Ligustrum ibota var. amurense
• Ligustrum obtusifolium f. leiocalyx
• Ligustrum obtusifolium f. velutinum
• Ligustrum ibota f. microphyllum
• Ligustrum tschonoskii var. leiocalyx
• Ligustrum ciliatum var. microphyllum
• Ligustrum obtusifolium var. leiocalyx
• Ligustrum ibota var. angustifolium
• Ligustrum ibota var. velutinum
• Ligustrum ibota var. obovatum
• Ligustrum obtusifolium var. velutinum
• Ligustrum obtusifolium var. rubescens
• Ligustrum ibota f. tschonoskii
• Ligustrum ibota f. angustifolium
• Ligustrum ibota f. obtusifolium
• Ligustrum obtusifolium var. regelianum
• Ligustrum ibota var. regelianum
• Ligustrum suave
• Ligustrum obtusifolium subsp. microphyllum

Regional and Traditional Names

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 Lamiales, it is classified under the family Oleaceae and the genus Ligustrum. Specifically, the species is identified as Ligustrum obtusifolium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is native to several specific regions across East Asia. Within China, its presence is documented in Manchuria, North-Central China, and Southeast China. Beyond the Chinese mainland, the species extends its reach into the neighboring territories of Korea. Its geographical range also encompasses the islands of Japan. Consequently, this medicinal plant follows a broad distribution pattern across the eastern parts of the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Ligustrum obtusifolium is characterized by its specific altitudinal distribution within its native habitat. This species typically inhabits low to mid-elevation landscapes, maintaining a broad elevational range that begins at a minimum of 60 m AMSL. It thrives across varying terrains, reaching a maximum elevation of 600 m AMSL, with its ecological niche most frequently centered around a mean elevation of 330 m AMSL. This vertical distribution suggests an adaptation to specific temperature and moisture gradients found within these lowland to foothills environments.

Elevational range max:

600 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

330 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

60 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Ligustrum obtusifolium is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its stem tissue above the ground level, which supports its structural development and growth patterns. The plant exhibits a deciduous nature, undergoing seasonal changes where it sheds its foliage as part of its natural life cycle. Additionally, its growth habit can be classified under the nanophanerophyte life form, reflecting its specific architectural scale and survival strategy within its ecological niche.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ligustrum obtusifolium is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub. This species is a self-supporting plant, meaning it does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, and it maintains an independent lifestyle as it is not a parasite. It is a terrestrial plant rather than being aquatic or epiphytic. In terms of stature, the plant typically reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 2 m to a maximum of 3 m, with a mean plant height of approximately 3.1 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

3.1 m

Plant height min:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ligustrum obtusifolium is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy typical of many woody shrubs that optimizes carbon fixation under moderate environmental conditions. The plant's vegetative architecture is defined by its leaf morphology, which exhibits significant dimensional variability. The foliage maintains a mean leaf length of 3.75 cm, though individual leaves can range from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 6 cm. Complementing this longitudinal variation is a distinct width profile, with leaf widths ranging from a minimum of 0.5 cm to a maximum of 2.2 cm, resulting in a mean leaf width of 1.35 cm. This morphological plasticity in leaf size and shape likely serves to balance light interception efficiency with transpiration control within its physiological framework.

Leaf length max:

6 cm

Leaf length mean:

3.75 cm

Leaf length min:

1.5 cm

Leaf width max:

2.2 cm

Leaf width mean:

1.35 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ligustrum obtusifolium is characterized by a highly flexible flowering period, with flowering activity potentially occurring in any month of the year, from January through December, and is noted to be variable depending on environmental conditions. The plant produces fruits that exhibit specific dimensional characteristics, with a mean fruit width of 0.5 cm, ranging from a minimum of 0.4 cm to a maximum of 0.6 cm. Accompanying the fruit are seeds that maintain a very consistent mass; the seed mass ranges from a minimum of 0.02 g to a maximum of 0.0206178 g, resulting in a mean seed mass of approximately 0.02046445 g.

Flowering time :

Dec

Fruit width max:

0.6 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.5 cm

Fruit width min:

0.4 cm

Seed mass max:

0.0206178 g

Seed mass mean:

0.02046445 g

Seed mass min:

0.02 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Ligustrum obtusifolium has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (+)-Medioresinol, (+)-Pinoresinol, (+)-pinoresinol 4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, (-)-Olivil, luteolin.

(+)-Medioresinol

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

(+)-Pinoresinol

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

(+)-pinoresinol 4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

(-)-Olivil

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

luteolin

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

luteolin-4'-o-beta-d-glucopyranoside

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica