Nervilia fordii

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pogonia fordii
• Nervilia mekongensis

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Asparagales, it is classified under the family Orchidaceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Nervilia and the species Nervilia fordii.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across several key regions in East and Southeast Asia. In China, its presence is noted specifically within the South-Central and Southeast territories. Moving into the Indo-China peninsula, the species can be found growing in the landscape of Laos. It also maintains a significant distribution throughout the various provinces of Thailand. Finally, the geographical range of this medicinal plant extends into the country of Vietnam.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Nervilia fordiii is characterized by its specialized survival strategies, functioning primarily as a geophyte and a cryptophyte. As a geophyte, the plant relies on underground storage organs, such as tubers or rhizomes, to endure unfavorable environmental conditions or seasonal changes, allowing it to remain dormant before emerging during optimal growth periods. This classification as a cryptophyte further emphasizes its life cycle, where the perennating buds are located safely beneath the soil surface, protecting them from herbivory and environmental fluctuations. This combination of traits enables the plant to effectively navigate its ecological niche by sequestering energy underground, ensuring successful regrowth and seasonal activity.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Nervilia fordii is characterized by its growth habit as a terrestrial organism, as it functions as a non-epiphytic plant that resides within the soil substrate rather than on other vegetation. It is an independent species that does not exhibit parasitic behavior, maintaining its own nutritional processes without relying on a host. In terms of its structural support, the plant is classified as self-supporting, meaning it does not possess the climbing mechanisms—whether obligatory or facultative—required to scale other structures, instead maintaining its own upright or prostrate form through its own tissue integrity.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Parasite :

independent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Nervilia fordii has 15 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Rhamnazin, Rhamnocitrin, 6-BA, Cyclohomonervilol, Daucosterol.

Rhamnazin

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
2. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Rhamnocitrin

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
2. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

6-BA

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

Cyclohomonervilol

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Daucosterol

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Docosanoic acid

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Esculetin

1. Journal of natural products

Flavonoids

1. Journal of natural products

NAA

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

NORLEUCINE

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Activities

Nervilia fordii has 3 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antitumor, Antiviral.

Antimicrobial

1. Frontiers in microbiology

Antitumor

1. Frontiers in microbiology

Antiviral

1. Frontiers in microbiology

Medicinal Uses

Nervilia fordii has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antiviral, herpes simplex virus 1.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations