dwarf lilyturf

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• dwarf lilyturf
• mondo-grass
• ophiopogon
• snake's-beard
• Dwarf Lily-turf
• Mondo Grass

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Slateria japonica
• Ophiopogon ohwii
• Liriope gracilis
• Ophiopogon merrillii
• Mondo stolonifer
• Flueggea japonica var. minor
• Flueggea anceps
• Tricoryne caulescens
• Polygonastrum compressum
• Convallaria graminifolia
• Tricoryne acaulis
• Convallaria japonica var. minor
• Ophiopogon japonicus var. umbrosus
• Ophiopogon japonicus var. elevatus
• Mondo gracile var. brevipedicellatum
• Slateria coerulea
• Ophiopogon gracilis var. brevipedicellatus
• Ophiopogon japonicus var. caespitosus
• Ophiopogon gracilis
• Mondo japonicum
• Mondo longifolium
• Mondo gracile
• Ophiopogon stolonifer
• Ophiopogon argyi
• Ophiopogon chekiangensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

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 Asparagaceae and is identified by the genus Ophiopogon.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad natural range across several key regions in East Asia. Within China, its presence is well-established in the South-Central, North-Central, and Southeast territories. The species also extends its reach into the island nation of Japan. Furthermore, its geographical footprint includes the Korean Peninsula. Collectively, these locations highlight the plant's significant distribution throughout Eastern Asia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Ophiopogon japonicus is characterized by its ability to inhabit diverse environments, typically favoring shaded or semi-shaded habitats such as forest understories and rocky slopes. It demonstrates a significant vertical distribution capability, spanning a broad altitudinal gradient that allows it to adapt to varying climatic conditions. Specifically, the species is found across an elevational range that reaches a maximum of 2000 m AMSL, with an average elevational range mean of 2000 m AMSL, indicating its prevalence in mid-to-high altitude montane ecosystems. This adaptability to specific elevations suggests a specialized niche within temperate and subtropical forest structures where it thrives under filtered sunlight and consistent soil moisture.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Ophiopogon japonicus is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or the upper layers of the earth. This species maintains an evergreen habit, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and visually present throughout the year rather than shedding annually.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ophiopogon japonicus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, typically reaching an average plant height of approximately 0.3 m. It functions as a self-supporting plant rather than a climber or vine, maintaining a sturdy, upright structure. As a terrestrial species, it is neither aquatic nor semiaquatic, and it does not exhibit epiphytic behavior, remaining strictly grounded in its habitat. Furthermore, the plant is an independent organism, lacking any parasitic tendencies, and is categorized as a non-woody herbaceous plant.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ophiopogon japonicus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes and energy production. The vegetative morphology is defined by its linear leaves, which exhibit significant dimensional variability; individual leaves typically maintain a minimum length of 10 cm, an average length of 30 cm, and can reach a maximum length of up to 50 cm. In terms of lateral dimension, the leaf width ranges from a minimum of 0.15 cm to a maximum of 0.35 cm. Furthermore, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil rather than symbiotic nitrogen fixation.

Leaf length max:

50 cm

Leaf length mean:

30 cm

Leaf length min:

10 cm

Leaf width max:

0.35 cm

Leaf width min:

0.15 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ophiopogon japonicus is characterized by the development of inflorescences that typically range in length from a minimum of 0.02 m to a maximum of 0.05 m. The plant produces fruits that are categorized by a fleshy texture, which aids in the protection and eventual dispersal of the seeds. The seeds themselves exhibit highly consistent morphological dimensions, maintaining a uniform seed volume of 47 mm³ (with both minimum and maximum values recorded at 47 mm³). Furthermore, the seed mass is remarkably stable, with a mean, minimum, and maximum value all measured at 0.04559 g, indicating a highly standardized reproductive output per seed.

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Inflorescence length max:

0.05 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.02 m

Seed mass mean:

0.04559 g

Seed volume max:

47 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Ophiopogon japonicus has 5 reported plant parts identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, leaf, flower, rhizome, stem.

Root

1. Sheng wu gong cheng xue bao = Chinese journal of biotechnology
2. Chemosphere
3. Carbohydrate polymers
4. Plant methods
5. Fitoterapia

Leaf

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Flower

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

Rhizome

1. Phytochemistry

Stem

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Chemicals

Ophiopogon japonicus has 80 reported phytochemicals identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Ophiopogonin D, Paclobutrazol, Methylophiopogonanone A, Polysaccharide, Flavonoids.

Ophiopogonin D

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecular medicine reports
3. Journal of separation science
4. Frontiers in plant science
5. Journal of analytical methods in chemistry

Paclobutrazol

1. PeerJ
2. Chemosphere
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
5. Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry

Methylophiopogonanone A

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
3. Drug metabolism and disposition: the biological fate of chemicals
4. Journal of natural medicines

Polysaccharide

1. Scientific reports
2. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
3. Frontiers in plant science
4. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Flavonoids

1. Sheng wu gong cheng xue bao = Chinese journal of biotechnology
2. International journal of biological macromolecules
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Methylophiopogonanone B

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
3. Journal of natural medicines

Ophiopogonin B

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
3. Journal of natural medicines

Ruscogenin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
3. Journal of chromatography. A

BETA-SITOSTEROL

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

D-glucose

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

Activities

Ophiopogon japonicus has 214 reported activities identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, ACE-Inhibitor, Aggregant, Analgesic, Androgenic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Sheng wu gong cheng xue bao = Chinese journal of biotechnology

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aggregant

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic

1. Dr. Duke

Angiogenic

1. Dr. Duke

Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

Anorexic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiBPH

1. Dr. Duke

AntiCFS

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Ophiopogon japonicus has 24 reported medicinal uses identified across 19 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Dry eye disease, HIV, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, amnesia, antioxidant.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations