Chinese violet cress

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Chinese Violet Cress

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Moricandia sonchifolia
• Arabis chanetii
• Raphanus violaceus
• Cardamine potentillifolia
• Raphanus chanetii
• Raphanus courtoisii
• Orychophragmus violaceus var. variegatus
• Orychophragmus sonchifolius
• Orychophragmus violaceus var. odontopetalus
• Moricandia sonchifolia var. homaeophylla
• Orychophragmus sonchifolius var. intermedius
• Orychophragmus violaceus var. intermedius
• Orychophragmus sonchifolius var. subintegrifolius
• Orychophragmus violaceus var. subintegrifolius
• Orychophragmus violaceus var. lasiocarpus
• Orychophragmus violaceus var. homaeophylla
• Brassica violacea

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. It is further classified within the order Brassicales and the family Brassicaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation is within the genus Orychophraagmum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several key regions of East Asia. Within China, its presence is noted in the northern reaches of Inner Mongolia and the Manchurian region. It is also found throughout China North-Central and extends into the areas of China Southeast. Beyond the mainland, the species can be located in the eastern part of the continent in Japan. Together, these locations highlight a broad range spanning multiple distinct ecological zones.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Orychophragmus violaceus is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire developmental process—from germination and vegetative growth to flowering and seed production—within a single growing season. As an annual species, it must rapidly exploit favorable environmental conditions to ensure reproductive success before the onset of seasonal changes. Following the initial germination phase, the plant undergoes a period of vegetative expansion, accumulating the necessary energy reserves to support its rapid transition into the reproductive stage. Once mature, it produces flowers that facilitate pollination, eventually leading to the development of seeds that will remain dormant in the soil to await the next favorable cycle, thereby ensuring the continuity of the species.

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Orychophragmus violaceuus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. As a herb, the plant lacks significant lignification, possessing a non-woody structure throughout its development. In terms of stature, it is a relatively low-growing species with a plant height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 0.5 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 0.3 m. Additionally, the plant is classified as self-supporting, meaning it does not require external structures for climbing or support to maintain its upright posture.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

herb

Plant height max:

0.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.3 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Orychophragmus violaceuus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency within its specific ecological niche. The vegetative morphology, particularly regarding its foliar development, exhibits significant variability in leaf dimensions. The leaf length within this species follows a specific range, with a minimum measurement of 4 cm and a maximum extension reaching up to 9 cm. When considering the overall population, the leaf length maintains a mean value of 6.5 cm, reflecting the physiological adaptations and growth patterns inherent to the species' developmental cycle.

Leaf length max:

9 cm

Leaf length mean:

6.5 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Orychophragmus violaceus is characterized by the development of distinct floral and fruit structures that follow specific morphological dimensions. The flowering stage produces blossoms that vary in size, with flower lengths ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 4 cm. Following successful pollination, the plant transitions into the fruiting stage, producing fruits that exhibit significant dimensional variation. These fruits typically maintain a mean length of 8.5 cm, though individual specimens can range from a minimum length of 7 cm to a maximum of 10 cm.

Flower length max:

4 cm

Flower length min:

2 cm

Fruit length max:

10 cm

Fruit length mean:

8.5 cm

Fruit length min:

7 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Orychophragmus violaceus has 1 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed.

Seed

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. International journal of molecular sciences
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Orychophragmus violaceus has 12 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Irpexlacte B, Irpexlacte C, Epigoitrin, Irpexolaceus A, Irpexolaceus B.

Irpexlacte B

1. Phytochemistry
2. Frontiers in chemistry

Irpexlacte C

1. Phytochemistry
2. Frontiers in chemistry

Epigoitrin

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Irpexolaceus A

1. Phytochemistry

Irpexolaceus B

1. Phytochemistry

Irpexolaceus C

1. Phytochemistry

Irpexolaceus D

1. Phytochemistry

Irpexolaceus E

1. Phytochemistry

Irpexolaceus F

1. Phytochemistry

Irpexolaceus G

1. Phytochemistry

Conditions

Orychophragmus violaceus has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Cervical Cancer, inflammation, oxidative stress.

Cervical cancer

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Inflammation

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Oxidative stress

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Preparations

Orychophragmus violaceus has 2 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aqueous extract from the seeds of Orychophragmus violaceus, seeds.

Aqueous extract from the seeds of orychophragmus violaceus

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Seeds

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)