gray-blue spicebush

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Oriental Spicebush
• gray-blue spicebush

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Benzoin glaucum
• Lindera glauca var. kawakamii
• Lindera glauca var. parvifolia
• Benzoin glaucum var. kawakamii
• Lindera glauca f. glabella
• Benzoin glaucum var. glabellum

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Laurales and the family Lauraceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Lindra and the specific species Lindra glauca.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical range across various regions of East Asia. In China, its presence is noted throughout the South-Central, North-Central, and Southeast territories. Beyond mainland China, the species can be found inhabiting the islands of Japan. It also extends its distribution into the Korean Peninsula. Consequently, these diverse locations define the natural habitat of Lindera glauca.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Lindea glauca is characterized by a highly specific altitudinal niche, as it is found exclusively at a consistent elevation. Its distribution is concentrated at a mean elevation of 900 m AMSL, with its minimum and maximum elevational range also strictly recorded at 900 m AMSL. This precise vertical positioning suggests that the species is specialized to the specific climatic conditions, soil compositions, and environmental pressures present at this particular level of the landscape.

Elevational range max:

900 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Lindea glauca is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, ensuring its presence in its ecosystem over multiple growing seasons. Its structural growth is categorized under two distinct life forms: it functions as a phanerophyte, maintaining visible stems above the ground, while also exhibiting traits of a nanophanerophyte, where the stem height is relatively low. In terms of its foliage management, the plant is deciduous, shedding its leaves as part of its seasonal cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Lindea glauca is characterized by a woody growth form that can manifest as both a tree and a shrub. It typically reaches a plant height with a mean of approximately 7 m. In terms of its structural habit, it is a self-supporting plant rather than a climber, and it functions as a terrestrial species rather than an epiphyte.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Plant height mean:

7 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Lindea glauca is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy typical of many woody shrubs in temperate or subtropical environments. The plant's vegetative structure is defined by ovate leaves that feature entire margins and are notably devoid of thorns or spines. These leaves exhibit significant morphological variability in size, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 9 cm, maintaining a mean length of approximately 6.5 cm. The width of the foliage fluctuates between 2 cm and 4 cm, contributing to the overall leaf architecture. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nutrient availability to support its metabolic processes and structural growth.

Leaf form :

ovate

Leaf length max:

9 cm

Leaf length mean:

6.5 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

4 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

Reproduction in Lindea glauca is characterized by the production of seeds that exhibit a highly consistent and uniform physical profile. The reproductive output is defined by a singular seed mass value, with both the mean, maximum, and minimum measurements converging at exactly 0.03536 g. This lack of variance in seed mass suggests a highly stabilized reproductive strategy, ensuring that each individual seed produced by the plant carries a standardized energetic investment and weight of 0.03536 g, which likely plays a critical role in its dispersal and germination success within its natural habitat.

Seed mass mean:

0.03536 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Lindera glauca has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. Gene

Chemicals

Lindera glauca has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Terpenoid, oil.

Terpenoid

1. Gene
2. Scientific reports

oil

1. Scientific reports

Preparations

Lindera glauca has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include 80% MeOH extract.

80% meoh extract

1. Natural product research