Formosan michelia

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Formosan michelia

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Michelia compressa f. latifolia
• Michelia compressa var. angustifolia
• Michelia compressa var. latifolia
• Magnolia compressa var. formosana
• Michelia compressa
• Michelia compressa var. lanyuensis
• Magnolia compressa var. lanyuensis
• Magnolia formosana
• Michelia compressa var. formosana
• Michelia cumingii
• Michelia formosana
• Michelia compressa f. angustifolia

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 Magnoliales, it is classified under the family Magnoliaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Magnolia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across several key regions within East Asia. In China, its presence is noted specifically throughout the South-Central areas. The species also extends into the territories of Japan and Korea. Additionally, it can be found in the Nansei-shotō islands. Finally, its geographical range includes the island of Taiwan.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Magnolia compressa is defined by its broad adaptability to varied montane and sub-montane environments, characterized by a significant altitudinal distribution. This species thrives across a diverse vertical gradient, ranging from lowland elevations as low as 200 m AMSL to high-altitude reaches that peak at 2600 m AMSL. The plant's ecological niche is most frequently concentrated around a mean elevation of 1400 m AMSL, suggesting that its optimal growth conditions and population densities are most stable within these mid-elevation belts. This wide elevational range indicates a capacity to inhabit multiple ecological zones, allowing the species to persist through varying climatic pressures and soil compositions found between the lowlands and the higher mountain slopes.

Elevational range max:

2600 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1400 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

200 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Magnolia compressa is characterized by its existence as a perennial plant, ensuring its survival through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its reproductive shoots well above the ground, a growth form that is further classified under the phanerophyte category to describe its structural development. This species exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its foliage throughout the year rather than shedding it seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Magnolia compressa is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, reaching an average height of approximately 17 m. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic or epiphytic tendencies, maintaining an independent lifestyle rather than acting as a parasite. In terms of structural support, the plant is classified as self-supporting, meaning it does not function as a liana or a climbing vine, but rather relies on its own sturdy, woody framework for upright growth.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

17 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Magnolia compressa is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy common among woody angiosperms that utilizes the Calvin cycle for carbon fixation. Its vegetative morphology is defined by specific leaf dimensions that facilitate gas exchange and light interception; the leaves exhibit a length that ranges from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 7 cm, with a calculated mean length of 6 cm. Complementing this longitudinal dimension, the leaf width varies between a minimum of 2 cm and a maximum of 3 cm, providing a specific surface-area-to-volume ratio optimized for its environmental niche.

Leaf length max:

7 cm

Leaf length mean:

6 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

3 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Magnolia compressa culminates in the development of characteristic fruit structures that serve as the primary vessels for seed dispersal. These fruits exhibit measurable morphological variation in size, with recorded fruit lengths ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 5 cm. On average, the fruit length typically measures around 4 cm, reflecting the biological standard for the species' reproductive output. This variation in fruit dimensions plays a critical role in the plant's life cycle, ensuring the successful containment and eventual release of seeds necessary for the propagation of the species.

Fruit length max:

5 cm

Fruit length mean:

4 cm

Fruit length min:

3 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Magnolia compressa has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include MICHELIOLIDE.

MICHELIOLIDE

1. Oncotarget
2. Heliyon

Activities

Magnolia compressa has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer.

Anticancer

1. Heliyon