kobushi magnolia

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• kobushi magnolia
• northern Japanese magnolia

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Magnolia kobus f. horisontalidivaricata
• Buergeria obovata
• Magnolia kobus var. borealis
• Magnolia kobushii
• Michelia gracilis
• Magnolia pseudokobus
• Magnolia borealis
• Yulania kobus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida. It is further organized into the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Magnoliales, falling under the family Magnoliaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is within the genus Magnolia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is naturally indigenous to various regions within Eastern Asia, including Japan and Korea. Beyond its native range, it has successfully established itself in parts of North America. Specifically, it can be found growing in the province of Ontario in Eastern Canada. Its distribution also extends into the Northeastern United States, particularly within the states of New York and Pennsylvania. Consequently, the geographical footprint of Magnolia kobus spans across both Eastern Asian and North American landscapes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Magnolia kobus is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a stable presence in its natural habitat. In terms of its structural growth strategy, the plant is classified as a phanerophyte, as it maintains its buds well above the ground level during unfavorable seasons, typically on woody branches. Furthermore, within specific ecological niche classifications, it can be described as a nanophanerophyte, reflecting its stature and the positioning of its reproductive and vegetative buds. This combination of a long-lived perennial lifecycle and a phanerophyte life form enables the species to undergo seasonal cycles of flowering and leaf senescence while ensuring its survival through woody persistence.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Magnolia kobus is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, which can also exhibit a shrub-like habit depending on environmental conditions. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, and it operates as an independent organism rather than a parasite. The species is strictly terrestrial, lacking any aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, it is a substantial plant with a height typically ranging from a minimum of 8 meters to a maximum of 15 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15 m

Plant height min:

8 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Magnolia kobus is characterized by its efficient carbon fixation processes and specialized metabolic adaptations typical of temperate deciduous woody species. As a member of the Magnoliaceae family, its primary metabolic driver is the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a mechanism in which carbon dioxide is fixed directly into a three-carbon compound during the Calvin cycle. This photosynthetic strategy allows the plant to maximize biomass production under the moist, temperate forest conditions in which it typically thrives, though it necessitates careful regulation of transpiration to prevent water loss. The plant's physiological processes are closely tied to seasonal rhythms, involving complex hormonal signaling that regulates bud dormancy during winter and rapid leaf expansion during the spring. Furthermore, its metabolic profile includes the synthesis of various bioactive secondary metabolites, which serve both defensive roles against herbivory and physiological roles in environmental stress adaptation.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Magnolia kobus involves the development of specialized fruit structures that transition through distinct states, characterized by a fruit dryness profile that can be described as both fleshy and dry. Within these fruits, the seeds exhibit specific morphological and physical properties essential for dispersal and germination. The seed mass is notably variable, ranging from a minimum of 0.1087 g to a maximum of 0.345 g, with an overall mean seed mass of approximately 0.1882833335 g. In terms of spatial dimensions, the seed volume is highly consistent, maintaining a recorded volume of 200 mm³, which serves as both the minimum, maximum, and mean volume for the species.

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Seed mass max:

0.345 g

Seed mass mean:

0.1882833335 g

Seed mass min:

0.1087 g

Seed volume max:

200 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Magnolia kobus has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower.

Flower

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Chemicals

Magnolia kobus has 36 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Magnosalin, Magnoshinin, Syringin, 16-Hentriacontanone, 16-hentriacontanol.

Magnosalin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Japanese journal of pharmacology
3. International archives of allergy and applied immunology

Magnoshinin

1. Japanese journal of pharmacology
2. International archives of allergy and applied immunology

Syringin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

16-Hentriacontanone

1. Dr. Duke

16-hentriacontanol

1. Dr. Duke

ALPHA-PINENE

1. Dr. Duke

ANETHOLE

1. Dr. Duke

ARSENIC

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Magnolia kobus has 471 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, 5-HT-Inhibitor, 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor, ACE-Inhibitor.

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-HT-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Adaptogenic

1. Dr. Duke

Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Magnolia kobus has 5 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Chronic kidney disease, angiogenesis, headaches, inflammation, toothaches.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations