Japanese climbing fern

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Japanese climbing fern
• apanese Climbing Fern

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Hydroglossum dissectum
• Lygodium cochinchinense
• Trichomanes cochinchinense
• Lygodium dissectum
• Lygodium japonicum var. microstachyum
• Lygodium mearnsii
• Hydroglossum japonicum
• Lygodium finlaysonianum
• Lygodium hazaricum
• Lygodium chaerophylloides
• Lygodium japonicum f. elongatum
• Adiantum scandens
• Lygodium microstachyum
• Lygodium microstachyum var. glabrescens

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Lygodium japonicum, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Polypodiinae, it is classified under the order Schizaeales and the family Schizaeaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by its genus, Lygodium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad and diverse geographical distribution across multiple continents. In Africa, its presence is specifically noted within the Cape Provinces of Southern Africa. Its range extends significantly into Asia, where it is found throughout various regions of China. Specifically, it inhabits the South-Central, North-Central, and Southeast areas of the country. Additionally, the species can be found on the tropical island of Hainan.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Lygodium japonicum is characterized by its preference for specific altitudinal gradients, primarily thriving in lowland environments. This species occupies a specialized niche within a narrow elevational range, typically found at altitudes ranging from a minimum of 5 m AMSL to a maximum of 20 m AMSL. Within these low-lying areas, its distribution is closely tied to the local microclimate and soil moisture levels characteristic of such low elevations.

Elevational range max:

20 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

5 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Lygodium japonicum is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. Throughout its development, the plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage as part of its seasonal growth cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Lygodium japonicum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb, specifically functioning as an obligatory climbing vine. As an independent organism, it does not act as a parasite, nor does it exhibit epiphytic behavior, maintaining a terrestrial habit. The plant displays significant variation in stature, with a minimum height of 1 meter and a maximum height reaching up to 10 meters, resulting in a mean plant height of approximately 10 meters. This climbing mechanism allows it to traverse its environment effectively despite its non-woody structure.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

10 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Lygodium japonicum is characterized by a standard C3 photosynthetic pathway, which involves the direct fixation of carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle without the specialized carbon-concentrating mechanisms found in C4 or CAM plants. This metabolic strategy dictates its efficiency in carbon assimilation, making it highly dependent on specific environmental conditions such as light availability and moisture to optimize gas exchange. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable biological form; instead, it relies entirely on the uptake of available nitrogenous compounds from the surrounding soil to support its growth and development.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

Reproduction in Lygodium japonicum is characterized by a complex life cycle typical of ferns, involving an alternation of generations between a sporophyte and a gametophyte. The sporophyte stage produces spores within specialized structures called sporangia, which are housed in fertile pinnules. These spores are dispersed by wind to establish new gametophytes. Within the reproductive process, the plant exhibits specific sexual characteristics where self-fertilization is present. This capability for self-fertilization allows the plant to maintain populations and colonize new areas even when external mates or specific environmental conditions for cross-pollination are limited, providing a reproductive advantage in various ecological niches.

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Lygodium japonicum has 24 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 1-Hentriacontanol, 2-Anilino-1,4-naphthoquinone, ARSENIC, BETA-SITOSTEROL, CALCIUM.

1-Hentriacontanol

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

2-Anilino-1,4-naphthoquinone

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

ARSENIC

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-SITOSTEROL

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

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

COPPER

1. Dr. Duke

Daucosterol

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

Flavonoids

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

IRON

1. Dr. Duke

Kaempferol 7-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside

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

Activities

Lygodium japonicum has 152 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, ACE-Inhibitor, Analgesic, Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker, Anorexic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

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

AntiLyme

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Lygodium japonicum has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Urolithiasis.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations