Osmanthus armatus

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Osmanthus obtusifolius
• Osmanthus armatus var. microcarpus

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Lamiales, falling into the family Oleaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Osmanthus, specifically the species Osmanthus armatus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Osmanthus armatus, exhibits a specific distribution pattern across the diverse landscapes of China. Its presence is well-documented within the South-Central regions of the country. Additionally, the species can be found growing throughout China's North-Central territories. It also extends its reach into the lush environments of Southeast China. Together, these areas define the primary geographical range for this medicinal species.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Osmanthus armatus is characterized by a highly specific altitudinal niche, as evidenced by its concentrated presence within a narrow elevational band. This species is found at a consistent elevation of 1400 m AMSL, with its minimum, mean, and maximum recorded values all converging at this precise altitude. Such a restricted elevational range suggests that the plant is highly adapted to the specific climatic conditions, temperature gradients, and atmospheric pressures unique to this particular mountain belt, indicating a specialized ecological requirement for its survival and distribution.

Elevational range max:

1400 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Osmanthus armatus is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its presence in the ecosystem over multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its perennuating shoots well above the ground, typically manifesting as a woody shrub or small tree. Furthermore, its growth habit is classified as a nanophanerophyte, reflecting its stature and structural organization. Throughout its life cycle, the plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, retaining its foliage year-round rather than shedding it seasonally, which allows for continuous photosynthetic activity.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Osmanthus armatus is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub that functions as a self-supporting plant. It is an independent, terrestrial species that does not exhibit parasitic or epiphytic behavior. In terms of stature, the plant typically reaches a mean height of 4 meters, though individual specimens can vary in size, ranging from a minimum height of 2 meters to a maximum height of 6 meters.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

6 m

Plant height mean:

4 m

Plant height min:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Osmanthus armatus is characterized by specific morphological dimensions of its foliage, which play a critical role in its photosynthetic efficiency and transpiration processes. The leaf architecture exhibits significant variability in size, with measured lengths ranging from a minimum of 6 cm to a maximum of 8 cm. On average, the leaf length maintains a mean value of 7 cm, a dimension that influences the plant's total surface area for gas exchange and light interception. This structural consistency in leaf size supports the plant's metabolic demands and contributes to its overall physiological stability within its natural habitat.

Leaf length max:

8 cm

Leaf length mean:

7 cm

Leaf length min:

6 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Osmanthus armatus culminates in the development of fleshy drupes that serve as the primary dispersal mechanism for the species. These fruits exhibit a highly consistent morphology, characterized by a uniform dimension across the population. Specifically, the fruits maintain a mean length of 1.5 cm, with both the minimum and maximum recorded values remaining steady at 1.5 cm. In terms of lateral dimension, the fruit width is equally consistent, presenting a mean, minimum, and maximum value of 1 cm. This morphological stability in fruit size suggests a specialized evolutionary adaptation for seed protection and dispersal efficiency.

Fruit length max:

1.5 cm

Fruit width max:

1 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Osmanthus armatus has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include armatuside.

armatuside

1. Natural product research

Preparations

Osmanthus armatus has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanolic extract.

Ethanolic extract

1. Natural product research