Herba Lophatheri

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Herba Lophatheri
• Sasagrass

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Acroelytrum urvillei
• Lophatherum gracile f. musashiense
• Lophatherum gracile var. pilosulum
• Lophatherum gracile var. elatum
• Lophatherum gracile f. elatum
• Lophatherum gracile var. annulatum
• Acroelytrum japonicum
• Lophatherum annulatum
• Lophatherum gracile f. annulatum
• Allelotheca urvillei
• Lophatherum zeylanicum
• Lophatherum dubium
• Lophatherum elatum
• Lophatherum gracile f. pilosulum
• Lophatherum gracile var. cochinchinense
• Lophatherum gracile var. intermedium
• Lophatherum gracile var. musashiense
• Lophatherum gracile var. pilosum
• Lophatherum gracile var. zeylanicum
• Lophatherum humile
• Lophatherum japonicum
• Lophatherum lehmannii
• Lophatherum multiflorum
• Lophatherum pilosulum

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. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and order Poales, it is further categorized into the family Poaceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Lophatherum, with its species name being gracile.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across various regions of East Asia. In China, it can be found throughout the South-Central provinces as well as the Southeast. Its presence also extends to the tropical island of Hainan. Moving further north, the species is naturally distributed throughout the Korean Peninsula. Additionally, it inhabits the islands and coastal areas of Japan.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Lophatherum gracile is characterized by a highly specific environmental niche, as it is documented to exist within a very narrow altitudinal band. This species is found at a precise elevation of 1350 m AMSL, indicating a specialized adaptation to the specific climatic conditions, atmospheric pressure, and temperature regimes associated with this particular height above mean sea level. Such a restricted elevational range suggests that the plant is sensitive to altitudinal gradients and likely relies on a stable ecological zone that meets its unique requirements for moisture, soil composition, and light availability found at this specific stratum of its habitat.

Elevational range max:

1350 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Lophatherum gracile is characterized by its nature as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth habit, the plant is classified as a hemicryptophyte, meaning its perennial buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or surface debris during unfavorable conditions. This hemicrypto-phyte life form facilitates its survival and seasonal regeneration, distinguishing its developmental strategy from other growth types such as phanerophytes or therophytes.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Lophatherum gracile is characterized by a non-woody, graminoid growth form that functions as a herb. It exhibits a self-supporting structure, operating as a self-supporting climber rather than an obligatory or facultative vine or liana. This species is primarily terrestrial in its ecological habit, spanning aquatic, semiaquatic, and terrestrial niches, and it maintains a terrestrial existence rather than functioning as an epiphyte (whether holoepiphyte, hemiepiphyte, or otherwise). As an independent organism, it does not exhibit parasitic behavior, and its physical stature is limited to a maximum plant height of 1 meter.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

graminoid

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Lophatherum gracile is characterized by specific seed morphology and a distinct dispersal strategy. The plant produces seeds with a highly uniform mass, where both the mean, minimum, and maximum values are recorded at exactly 0.00263 g, indicating a lack of significant variation in individual seed weight. Regarding its dispersal mechanism, the species exhibits a zoochorous syndrome, meaning it relies on animals for the movement and distribution of its seeds to new locations.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Seed mass mean:

0.00263 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Lophatherum gracile 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 leaf, stem.

Leaf

1. Chinese herbal medicines

Stem

1. Chinese herbal medicines

Chemicals

Lophatherum gracile has 20 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Isoorientin, luteolin, ARSENIC, Arundoin.

Flavonoids

1. Chinese herbal medicines
2. Food science & nutrition

Isoorientin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Chinese herbal medicines

luteolin

1. Chinese herbal medicines
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

ARSENIC

1. Dr. Duke

Arundoin

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

COPPER

1. Dr. Duke

Cylindrin

1. Dr. Duke

Friedelin

1. Dr. Duke

IRON

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Lophatherum gracile has 155 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cardioprotective, Diuretic, ACE-Inhibitor, Analgesic, Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker.

Cardioprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chinese herbal medicines

Diuretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chinese herbal medicines

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

Anorexic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiBPH

1. Dr. Duke

AntiCFS

1. Dr. Duke

AntiCrohn's

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Lophatherum gracile has 3 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, respiratory syncytial virus infection, tumor.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations