Microtropis japonica

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Otherodendron sakaguchianum
• Otherodendron micranthum
• Cassine japonica
• Microtropis micrantha
• Microtropis liukiuensis
• Otherodendron liukiuense
• Microtropis kotoensis
• Microtropis sakaguchiana
• Otherodendron japonicum
• Microtropis cornuta
• Elaeodendron japonicum
• Cassine kotoensis

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known as Microtropis japonica, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Celastrales and the family Celastraceae. Finally, it is situated within the genus Microtropis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily found within the diverse landscapes of Eastern Asia. Its natural range extends across the various islands of Japan. Furthermore, it is commonly distributed throughout the Nansei-shoto archipelago. The species can also be located within the subtropical regions of Taiwan. These specific territories define the primary geographical footprint of the species.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Microtropis japonica is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and maintain a stable presence within its ecological niche. Throughout its developmental stages, it exhibits an evergreen habit, meaning it retains its foliage year-round rather than shedding leaves seasonally. This combination of a perennial lifecycle and evergreen deciduousness ensures a continuous photosynthetic capacity, supporting its long-term survival and growth patterns in its native habitat.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Microtropis japonica is characterized by its distinct growth habits and structural composition. This species functions as a self-supporting climber, utilizing its physical structure to ascend and navigate its environment. In terms of its developmental architecture, the plant exhibits a growth form that can be categorized as both a shrub and a tree, depending on its stage of development and environmental conditions. Furthermore, the plant possesses a woody constitution, providing the necessary structural integrity for its climbing and upright growth forms.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Microtropis japonica is closely linked to its vegetative morphology, particularly through the structural characteristics of its foliage which facilitate efficient light interception and gas exchange. The plant exhibits significant variation in leaf dimensions, with leaf length ranging from a minimum of 4.5 cm to a maximum of 8 cm, maintaining a mean length of approximately 6.25 cm. Complementing this longitudinal growth, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 2 cm and a maximum of 4 cm, resulting in a mean width of 3 cm. These morphological parameters suggest a highly adaptable leaf architecture that optimizes the surface area-to-volume ratio, allowing the plant to regulate transpiration and photosynthetic activity effectively within its specific ecological niche.

Leaf length max:

8 cm

Leaf length mean:

6.25 cm

Leaf length min:

4.5 cm

Leaf width max:

4 cm

Leaf width mean:

3 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Microtropis japonica culminates in the development of distinct fruits that exhibit specific morphological variations in size. The dimensions of these fruits are characterized by a mean length of 1.75 cm and a mean width of 0.85 cm. In terms of their range of development, the fruit length fluctuates between a minimum of 1.5 cm and a maximum of 2 cm, while the fruit width varies from a minimum of 0.7 cm to a maximum of 1 cm.

Fruit length max:

2 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.75 cm

Fruit length min:

1.5 cm

Fruit width max:

1 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.85 cm

Fruit width min:

0.7 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Microtropis japonica 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 stem.

Stem

1. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Microtropis japonica has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 15-Acetoxyorbiculin G, 3-Ethoxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, 8-Benzoyloxymutangin, Celahin C, salasol A.

15-Acetoxyorbiculin G

1. Journal of natural products

3-Ethoxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde

1. Journal of natural products

8-Benzoyloxymutangin

1. Journal of natural products

Celahin C

1. Journal of natural products

salasol A

1. Journal of natural products

Activities

Microtropis japonica has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antitubercular.

Antitubercular

1. Journal of natural products