Peliosanthes sinica

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Peliosanthes sinica, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Asparagales and the family Asparagaceae. Finally, it is classified under the genus Peliosanthes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across several key regions in Asia. Within China, it can be found growing in the South-Central areas. Additionally, its presence extends into the Southeast regions of China. Moving beyond Chinese borders, the species is also located within the Indo-China peninsula. Specifically, its geographical range includes the country of Laos.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Peliosanthes sinica is characterized by its specific distribution across mid-to-high altitude montane environments. This species thrives within a distinct elevational range, typically found at altitudes starting from a minimum of 850 m AMSL. The species reaches its upper environmental limits at a maximum elevation of 1400 m AMSL, with its primary ecological niche centered around a mean elevation of 1125 m AMSL. This vertical distribution suggests that the plant is adapted to the specific temperature, moisture, and atmospheric conditions prevalent within these subtropical or tropical montane zones.

Elevational range max:

1400 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1125 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

850 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Peliosanthes sinica is characterized by its specific growth habit and survival strategy, functioning primarily as a hemicryptophyte. In its ecological development, the plant maintains its perennating buds at or just below the soil surface, protected by a layer of leaf litter or surface debris. This life form is categorized under both the hemicryptophyte and hemicryptophyte classifications, indicating its ability to endure seasonal environmental fluctuations by sheltering its regenerative tissues close to the substrate. This strategy allows the plant to persist through unfavorable periods, re-emerging to complete its reproductive cycle when conditions become conducive to growth.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Peliosanthes sinica is characterized by its specific growth habit and ecological positioning. It functions as a self-supporting climber, utilizing its structural development to ascend without the absolute necessity of external hosts for structural integrity. In terms of its nutritional strategy, the plant is categorized as an independent organism, meaning it does not exhibit parasitic behavior and maintains its own metabolic processes. Furthermore, rather than growing as an epiphyte upon other plants, it maintains a terrestrial existence, rooting itself directly in the ground.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Parasite :

independent

Physiology

The physiological profile of Peliosanthes sinica is characterized by significant morphological variation in its foliar structures, which play a critical role in its metabolic processes and light interception capabilities. The leaf dimensions exhibit a specific range of plasticity, with leaf lengths spanning from a minimum of 11 cm to a maximum of 17 cm, maintaining a calculated mean length of 14 cm. Complementing this longitudinal variation is a distinct breadth in leaf width, which ranges from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 6 cm. These architectural parameters suggest an adaptive strategy for maximizing photosynthetic surface area while regulating transpiration rates across different environmental microclimates.

Leaf length max:

17 cm

Leaf length mean:

14 cm

Leaf length min:

11 cm

Leaf width max:

6 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Peliosanthes sinica is primarily mediated through its flowering process, which produces specialized reproductive structures characterized by specific dimensions. The flowers produced during the reproductive cycle exhibit a consistent size range, with a minimum flower length of 0.6 cm and a maximum flower length reaching up to 0.7 cm. These small, delicate floral structures are essential for the plant's sexual reproduction, facilitating the necessary biological processes for seed development and subsequent propagation within its natural habitat.

Flower length max:

0.7 cm

Flower length min:

0.6 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Peliosanthes sinica has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Peliosanthoside A, Peliosanthoside B, Peliosanthoside C.

Peliosanthoside A

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Peliosanthoside B

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Peliosanthoside C

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Preparations

Peliosanthes sinica has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include whole plants.

Whole plants

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin