Sikkim Microula

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Sikkim Microula

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Anchusa sikkimensis
• Anoplocaryum limprichtii
• Tretocarya sikkimensis
• Microula duthiei
• Tretocarya sikkimensis

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Microula sikkimensis, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Boraginales and the family Boraginaceae. Finally, its taxonomic placement is completed within the genus Microula.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution spanning across several key regions of Asia. In China, its presence is recorded within the South-Central and North-Central territories. Furthermore, the species can be found in the high-altitude areas of Qinghai and Tibet. Beyond China, it extends into the Indian Subcontinent, specifically inhabiting the East Himalaya region. These diverse locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in various mountainous ecosystems.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Microula sikkimensis is strictly defined by its high-altitude alpine habitat, where it thrives within specific vertical distribution zones. This species is found across a significant altitudinal gradient, occupying an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 3000 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 4500 m AMSL. Throughout its natural distribution, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 3750 m AMSL, positioning it within the harsh, specialized environments characteristic of high-mountain ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

4500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

3750 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

3000 m AMSL

Morphology

The morphology of Microula sikkimensis is characterized by its growth form as a herb, displaying a non-woody structure throughout its vegetative body. It functions as a self-supporting climber, utilizing its specialized growth habit to ascend without the necessity of external hosts. Furthermore, the plant is strictly terrestrial in its ecological positioning, establishing its root system within the soil rather than adopting an epiphytic lifestyle.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiological development of Microula sikkimensis is characterized by significant morphological variability in its foliage, reflecting its adaptive capacity to its environmental niche. The leaf architecture exhibits a wide range of dimensions, with leaf lengths varying from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 12 cm, maintaining an average length of approximately 8 cm. This longitudinal growth is complemented by a corresponding breadth in leaf width, which ranges from a narrow 0.7 cm to a maximum of 4.4 cm, resulting in a mean width of 2.55 cm. These fluctuating dimensions in both length and width suggest a dynamic physiological response to light availability and moisture retention, allowing the plant to optimize its surface area for photosynthetic efficiency and gas exchange across diverse microclimates.

Leaf length max:

12 cm

Leaf length mean:

8 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf width max:

4.4 cm

Leaf width mean:

2.55 cm

Leaf width min:

0.7 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Microula sikkimensis is characterized by its specialized inflorescence and fruit development patterns. The plant produces an inflorescence with a varying length that ranges from a minimum of 0.005 m to a maximum of 0.015 m. Following successful pollination, the plant develops small fruits that exhibit specific dimensional characteristics. The fruit length is quite modest, ranging from a minimum of 0.2 cm to a maximum of 0.25 cm, with an observed mean length of 0.225 cm. In terms of fruit width, the dimensions are highly consistent, maintaining a minimum, maximum, and mean width of 0.18 cm, indicating a very uniform fruit shape during its reproductive stage.

Fruit length max:

0.25 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.225 cm

Fruit length min:

0.2 cm

Fruit width max:

0.18 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.015 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.005 m

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Microula sikkimensis has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include MDA, Triglyceride, cholesterol.

MDA

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

Triglyceride

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

cholesterol

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

Conditions

Microula sikkimensis has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include hyperlipemia.

Hyperlipemia

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