Machilus thunbergii

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Persea thunbergii
• Machilus taiwanensis
• Machilus thunbergii var. stenophyllv
• Machilus kwashotensis
• Persea arisanensis
• Machilus nanshoensis
• Machilus thunbergii f. stenophyllus
• Machilus arisanensis
• Machilus thunbergii var. kwashotensis
• Machilus thunbergii var. trochodendroides
• Machilus macrophyllus var. arisanensis
• Machilus thunbergii var. obovatus
• Machilus arisanensis var. nanshoensis

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. It is classified within the order Laurales and the family Lauraceae. Finally, it is identified under the genus Machilus as Machilus thunbergii.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical range across several key regions in East Asia. Within China, its presence is noted in both the North-Central and Southeast territories. The species is also widely distributed throughout Eastern Asia, specifically occurring in Japan and Korea. Additionally, its range extends to the Nansei-shoto islands. Together, these locations define the diverse natural habitat of Machilus thunbergii.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Machilus thunbergii is characterized by a highly specific altitudinal distribution, as it is consistently documented within a narrow elevational range. The species thrives at a stable altitude of approximately 800 m AMSL, representing its minimum, mean, and maximum elevational limits. This specialized niche suggests that the plant is adapted to the specific environmental conditions, such as temperature gradients, humidity levels, and atmospheric pressure, found precisely at this mid-elevation zone.

Elevational range max:

800 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Machilus thunbergii is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a long-term presence within its ecosystem. Throughout its development, the plant maintains an evergreen habit, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and photosynthetic year-round rather than undergoing seasonal shedding. This combination of a perennial lifecycle and evergreen deciduousness enables the plant to maintain consistent physiological activity and structural stability over extended periods.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Machilus thunbergii is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that is entirely self-supporting rather than acting as a climber or liana. As a terrestrial species, it is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte, growing independently without parasitic or hemi-epiphytic dependencies. The plant reaches significant dimensions, typically maintaining a plant height ranging from a minimum of 10 m to a maximum of 15 m, with an average height of approximately 12.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15 m

Plant height mean:

12.5 m

Plant height min:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Machilus thunbergii is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a standard metabolic strategy for many woody forest species. Its foliar morphology features obovate leaf forms with entire margins and is notably devoid of any leaf thorns or spines. The leaves exhibit significant dimensional variability, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 4.5 cm to a maximum of 9 cm, maintaining a mean length of 6.75 cm. In terms of width, the leaves vary from a minimum of 1.7 cm to a maximum of 4.2 cm. Additionally, the structural integrity of the plant is supported by a stem specific density (SSD) with a mean value of 569 mg/cm³, reflecting its internal tissue composition and wood density.

Leaf form :

obovate

Leaf length max:

9 cm

Leaf length mean:

6.75 cm

Leaf length min:

4.5 cm

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

4.2 cm

Leaf width min:

1.7 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

569 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Machilus thunbergii is characterized by the development of inflorescences that typically range in length from a minimum of 0.05 m to a maximum of 0.118 m. Following pollination, the plant produces fleshy fruits that serve as the primary vessel for seed protection and distribution. These fruits exhibit consistent dimensions, with a mean length of 0.9 cm (ranging from 0.8 cm to 1 cm) and a mean width of 0.9 cm (ranging from 0.8 cm to 1 cm). Within these fleshy structures, the seeds possess a consistent volume of 200 mm³, with no variation observed between the minimum, mean, and maximum values. The dispersal of the species follows a zoochorous syndrome, indicating that the fleshy nature of the fruit is utilized by animals to facilitate the movement of seeds away from the parent plant.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

1 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.9 cm

Fruit length min:

0.8 cm

Fruit width max:

1 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.9 cm

Fruit width min:

0.8 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.118 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.05 m

Seed volume max:

200 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Machilus thunbergii has 12 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (+)-Galbacin, (-)-Acuminatin, (-)-sesamin, LICARIN A, Machilin A.

(+)-Galbacin

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
2. Archives of pharmacal research

(-)-Acuminatin

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
2. Archives of pharmacal research

(-)-sesamin

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
2. Archives of pharmacal research

LICARIN A

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
2. Archives of pharmacal research

Machilin A

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
2. Archives of pharmacal research

machilin G

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
2. Archives of pharmacal research

(+)-Galbelgin

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

(-)-isoguaiacin

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

5,7,3'-tri-o-methyl (-)-epicatechin

1. Archives of pharmacal research

Nectandrin B

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Activities

Machilus thunbergii has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.

Antioxidant

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Conditions

Machilus thunbergii has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Clonorchis sinensis.

Clonorchis sinensis

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Preparations

Machilus thunbergii has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include CH2Cl2 fraction, boiled water extracts.

Ch2cl2 fraction

1. Archives of pharmacal research

Boiled water extracts

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine