Chinese lobelia

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lobelia roxburghiana
• Lobelia chinensis f. plena
• Lobelia chinensis f. lactiflora
• Lobelia chinensis var. albiflora
• Pratia thunbergii
• Lobelia radicans f. plena
• Lobelia radicans f. lactiflora
• Lobelia radicans var. albiflora
• Pratia radicans
• Lobelia radicans
• Lobelia caespitosa
• Isolobus caespitosus
• Dortmanna chinensis
• Isolobus campanuloides
• Lobelia campanuloides
• Dortmanna campanuloides
• Isolobus kerii
• Dortmanna radicans
• Isolobus radicans
• Rapuntium chinense
• Isolobus roxburghianus
• Rapuntium radicans
• Lobelia kerii
• Rapuntium campanuloides
• Rapuntium caespitosum
• Lobelia chinensis var. pilosa

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 Asterales, it is classified under the family Campanulaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Lobelia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide distribution across several key regions in East Asia. Within China, it can be found throughout the South-Central and Southeast territories. It is also documented as growing on the island of Hainan. Moving beyond mainland China, the species is native to Japan in Eastern Asia. Finally, its geographical range extends to include the Korean Peninsula.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Lobelia chinensis is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. Structurally, it functions as a hemicryptophyte, a life form where the perennating buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or surface debris during unfavorable conditions. This classification as a hemicryptophyte defines its survival strategy, enabling the plant to regenerate from its basal structures after periods of dormancy or environmental stress.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Lobelia chinensis is characterized by a growth form classified as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. As a self-supporting plant, it does not exhibit climbing behaviors such as being a liana or a vine, nor does it function as an obligatory or facultative climber. The plant is non-parasitic and maintains an independent existence, lacking any epiphytic tendencies as it is strictly terrestrial rather than being a holoepiphyte, hemiepiphyte, or any other form of epiphyte. In terms of its habitat preference, it is categorized as terrestrial, although its ecological niche can encompass semiaquatic or aquatic environments. Structurally, the plant is relatively diminutive, reaching a maximum plant height of 0.15 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.15 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Lobelia chinensis is characterized by its reliance on the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a mechanism where carbon dioxide is fixed directly into a three-carbon compound during the first stage of the Calvin cycle. This metabolic process involves the enzyme RuBisCO facilitating the carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate, which is typical for most temperate and subtropical herbaceous plants. Because it utilizes this C3 pathway, the plant's physiological efficiency is highly dependent on environmental conditions such as light intensity, temperature, and water availability, as it is susceptible to photorespiration when stomata close under moisture stress. The metabolic energy derived from this photosynthetic efficiency supports the plant's growth patterns and the synthesis of its secondary metabolites, which are integral to its biological functions.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Lobelia chinensis has 16 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Linarin, 3'-hydroxygenkwanin, 5-Hydroxy-7-methoxycoumarin, 6,7-DIMETHOXYCOUMARIN, Flavonoids.

Linarin

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

3'-hydroxygenkwanin

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

5-Hydroxy-7-methoxycoumarin

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

6,7-DIMETHOXYCOUMARIN

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

Flavonoids

1. ACS omega

Fraxinol

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

Isoferulic acid

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

Lobetyolin

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

Lobetyolinin

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

Tomentin

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

Activities

Lobelia chinensis has 3 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antidiabetic, Antioxidant.

Anticancer

1. Drug design, development and therapy

Antidiabetic

1. ACS omega

Antioxidant

1. ACS omega

Conditions

Lobelia chinensis has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Mycobacterium tuberculosis, malignant melanoma, tuberculosis.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine

Malignant melanoma

1. Drug design, development and therapy

Tuberculosis

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine