Konishi's Newlitse

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Konishi's Newlitse

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Tetradenia konishii
• Litsea konishii

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is further organized into the order Laurales and the family Lauraceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is within the genus Neolitsea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across specific regions of Eastern Asia. Its natural habitat includes the Nansei-shoto islands, where it thrives in unique island ecosystems. In addition to these islands, its range extends to the subtropical landscapes of Taiwan. This localized distribution highlights the specific environmental requirements necessary for its growth. Consequently, the species remains concentrated within these particular East Asian territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Neolitsea konishii is characterized by a highly specific altitudinal distribution, as it is strictly confined to a narrow niche within its habitat. Based on recorded ecological data, the species occupies a precise elevational range, maintaining a consistent presence at an altitude of 1500 m AMSL. This stability is reflected across its minimum, mean, and maximum elevational thresholds, all of which converge at 1500 m AMSL, indicating that the plant is an altitudinal specialist rather than a generalist. Such a localized elevation profile suggests that Neolitsea konishii is finely tuned to the specific microclimatic conditions, such as temperature gradients, moisture levels, and atmospheric pressure, found exclusively at this specific height.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Neolitsea konishii is characterized by its nature as a perennial organism, ensuring its long-term presence within its ecological niche. As a perennial species, it does not complete its life cycle in a single growing season but instead persists through multiple years, allowing it to establish a stable and continuous existence in its habitat. This extended lifecycle enables the plant to undergo repeated cycles of vegetative growth and reproductive phases, contributing to its sustained development and ability to adapt to seasonal environmental changes over time.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Neolitsea konishii is characterized by a woody growth form, primarily manifesting as a tree. While it exhibits characteristics consistent with a tree in its structural development, its climbing habits can vary; it possesses the capacity to act as a self-supporting liana or vine, functioning as both an obligatory and facultative climber depending on environmental conditions. This combination of a woody, tree-like habit and self-supporting climbing traits defines its physical architecture.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

tree

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiological characteristics of the foliage in Neolitsea konishii are defined by a specific range of leaf dimensions that facilitate its metabolic processes. The leaves exhibit a notable variation in length, with a minimum measurement of 10 cm, a mean length of 12.5 cm, and reaching a maximum of 15 cm. Complementing this longitudinal development, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 3 cm and a maximum of 4 cm. These morphological parameters contribute to the overall surface area available for photosynthetic activity, ensuring efficient gas exchange and light interception within its natural habitat.

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length mean:

12.5 cm

Leaf length min:

10 cm

Leaf width max:

4 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Neolitsea konishiii is characterized by the development of specific fruit structures that maintain highly consistent dimensions. The resulting fruits exhibit a uniform morphology, with a mean length of 1.5 cm and a minimum length also recorded at 1.5 cm, indicating that the maximum length reaches 1.5 cm. Similarly, the fruit width demonstrates remarkable stability, maintaining a mean, minimum, and maximum value of 1.2 cm. This lack of variance in both length and width measurements suggests a highly standardized reproductive output in terms of fruit size.

Fruit length max:

1.5 cm

Fruit width max:

1.2 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Neolitsea konishii has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include IL 10, Thaliporphine.

IL 10

1. Journal of immunology research

Thaliporphine

1. European journal of pharmacology