Skunkvine

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• skunkvine
• Chinese fever vine

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Paederia tomentosa var. mairei
• Paederia mairei
• Paederia ovata
• Paederia barbulata
• Paederia amboinensis
• Paederia sessiliflora
• Paederia scandens var. villosa
• Paederia prainii
• Paederia scaberula
• Paederia scandens var. maritima
• Paederia stenophylla
• Paederia tomentosa var. glabra
• Apocynum foetidum
• Gentiana scandens
• Paederia scandens f. megaphylla
• Psychotria volubilis
• Paederia foetida f. microphylla
• Paederia scandens f. microphylla
• Hondbesseion foetidum
• Paederia foetida var. sessiliflora
• Paederia scandens f. rubrae-stellaris
• Paederia dunniana
• Hondbesseion tomentosum
• Reussia sarmentosa
• Paederia chinensis
• Paederia chinensis var. angustifolia
• Paederia chinensis var. maritima
• Paederia chinensis var. megaphylla
• Paederia chinensis f. microphylla
• Paederia chinensis f. tenuissima
• Paederia chinensis var. velutina
• Paederia esquirolii
• Paederia laxiflora
• Paederia longituba
• Paederia scandens
• Paederia scandens var. longituba
• Paederia scandens f. mairei
• Paederia scandens var. mairei
• Paederia scandens f. rubescens
• Paederia scandens var. tomentosa
• Paederia scandens var. velutina
• Paederia tomentosa
• Paederia uraiensis
• Paederia villosa
• Paederia scandens var. angustifolia
• Crawfurdia paniculata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, specifically falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Gentianaales, it is classified under the family Rubiaceae. Its taxonomic identity is completed by its placement in the genus Paederia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning across several distinct regions. In the Western Indian Ocean, its presence is noted in both Mauritius and Réunion. Moving toward East Asia, it can be found within various parts of China. Specifically, its range includes the China South-Central region as well as the Hainan province. Additionally, the species is documented to inhabit the China North-Central area.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Paederia foetida is characterized by its ability to thrive across a broad altitudinal spectrum, demonstrating significant environmental adaptability. It is found inhabiting diverse landscapes within an elevational range that extends from a minimum of 100 m AMSL to a maximum of 3200 m AMSL. This wide vertical distribution allows the species to occupy various ecological niches, ranging from lowland tropical environments to higher montane zones, where it must contend with varying temperature gradients and moisture availability.

Elevational range max:

3200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

100 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Paederia foetida is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its growth architecture and structural habit, it exhibits characteristics of both phanerophyte and chamaephyte life forms, reflecting its ability to maintain its buds above the ground level through various environmental conditions. Furthermore, the plant displays a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage as part of its seasonal biological cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

chamaephyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Paederia foetida is characterized by a growth form that can vary between a herb and a shrub, often exhibiting variable woodiness in its structural development. It functions as an obligatory climber, specifically taking the form of a liana or vine to navigate its environment. Rather than being an epiphyte, the plant is strictly terrestrial, establishing itself in soil-based habitats that range from terrestrial to semiaquatic conditions. Furthermore, it operates as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic relationship with its host plants.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

variable

Physiology

The physiological profile of Paederia foetida is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation mechanisms and metabolic efficiency. The leaf morphology plays a significant role in its resource acquisition, featuring a cordate leaf form with entire margins and a complete absence of protective structures such as thorns or spines. The leaf dimensions vary, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 14 cm, and widths spanning from 2 cm to 5 cm. In terms of leaf economics and structural investment, the plant exhibits a consistent Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 345.056368 cm²/g across its minimum, mean, and maximum recorded values, indicating a uniform strategy in leaf tissue density and surface area distribution. Furthermore, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nutrient availability to support its physiological processes.

Leaf form :

cordate

Leaf length max:

14 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

5 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) min:

345.056368 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Paederia foetida is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily involving insects with a specific reliance on bees to facilitate the transfer of pollen. The plant exhibits a lack of self-fertilization, necessitating cross-pollination to ensure genetic diversity. Following successful pollination, the plant produces fleshy fruit classified as a capsule. These fruits are dehiscent, meaning they split open at maturity to release the seeds. The seeds produced are remarkably uniform in their physical properties, with a recorded seed mass of 0.00613 g (both minimum and maximum) and a consistent seed volume of 5.9 mm³.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit type :

capsule

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass mean:

0.00613 g

Seed volume max:

5.9 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Paederia foetida has 2 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, flower.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Computational biology and chemistry
3. Journal of integrative medicine

Flower

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Chemicals

Paederia foetida has 27 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Iridoids, Asperuloside, Flavonoids, paederosidic acid, quercetin.

Iridoids

1. Natural product communications
2. Fitoterapia
3. Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening

Asperuloside

1. Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening
2. ACS omega

Flavonoids

1. Natural product communications
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

paederosidic acid

1. Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening
2. ACS omega

quercetin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

scopoletin

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

CAMPESTEROL

1. Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

ETHYL ACETATE

1. Journal of integrative medicine

Epifriedelinol

1. Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening

Activities

Paederia foetida has 16 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antinociceptive, Antitussive, Anthelmintic, Antidiabetic.

Antioxidant

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology
3. Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antinociceptive

1. Natural product communications
2. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology
3. Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening

Antitussive

1. Natural product communications
2. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology
3. Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening

Anthelmintic

1. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology
2. Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening

Antidiabetic

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening

Antitumor

1. Natural product communications
2. ACS omega

Thrombolytic

1. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology
2. Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening

Analgesic

1. Natural product communications

Antibacterial

1. ACS omega

Anticancer

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Medicinal Uses

Paederia foetida has 24 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antidiabetic, antidiarrheal, antioxidant, antitussive, cancer.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations