Chinese silkvine

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Chinese silkvine

Scientific Names

Accepted name

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 Gentianales, it is classified under the family Apocynaceae and is specifically identified by the genus Periploca.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several key regions in East Asia. In the Russian Far East, it is specifically documented to occur within the Primorye region. Its presence is also well-established throughout various parts of China, including the South-Central area. Furthermore, the species can be found spanning from the northern reaches of Inner Mongolia to the Manchuria region. Finally, its habitat extends into the North-Central territories of China.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Periploca sepium is characterized by its ability to thrive in disturbed and transitional environments. It is frequently found colonizing anthropogenically influenced areas, commonly occurring in gardens, along roadsides, and within dense shrubberies. These habitats provide the semi-shaded to open conditions and the structural complexity required for its growth habit. By establishing itself in these edge habitats and ruderal zones, the plant benefits from the varied light availability and soil disturbances typical of human-modified landscapes.

Habitat :

garden,roadsides,shrubberies

Life history

The life history of Periploca sepium is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. As a deciduous plant, it undergoes a seasonal cycle of shedding its foliage, typically responding to changes in temperature and photoperiod, which dictates its period of active growth and dormancy.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Periploca sepium is characterized by a woody growth form that primarily manifests as a shrub. It functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte, maintaining a terrestrial existence. While it possesses a shrub-like structure, it also exhibits climbing tendencies, specifically acting as a self-supporting plant. The species typically reaches a mean plant height of approximately 1.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

1.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Periploca sepium is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant's vegetative architecture features lanceolate-shaped leaves that lack any defensive leaf thorns or spines. These leaves exhibit significant morphological variability in size, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a mean of 7 cm, reaching a maximum of 9 cm. In terms of width, the leaves span from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 2.5 cm. Additionally, the leaf margins are distinguished by a crenate structure, contributing to the specific surface geometry utilized during gas exchange and transpiration.

Leaf form :

lanceolate

Leaf length max:

9 cm

Leaf length mean:

7 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf margin :

crenate

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

2.5 cm

Leaf width min:

1.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Periploca sepium is characterized by a specific flowering window and the development of elongated fruit structures. The flowering period typically commences in May and concludes in June, though the timing can be variable. Following pollination, the plant produces fruits that exhibit significant variation in length but maintain a consistent narrow profile. The fruit length ranges from a minimum of 7 cm to a maximum of 12 cm, with a calculated mean length of 9.5 cm. In terms of width, the fruit is notably slender, maintaining a consistent measurement where both the minimum, maximum, and mean widths are all recorded at 0.5 cm.

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jun

Fruit length max:

12 cm

Fruit length mean:

9.5 cm

Fruit length min:

7 cm

Fruit width max:

0.5 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Periploca sepium has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. Natural product research
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Chemicals

Periploca sepium has 17 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Periplocin, 2-Hydroxy-4-methoxy-benzaldehyde, vanillin, 4-Methoxysalicylic acid, Cycloeucalenol.

Periplocin

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Frontiers in plant science
3. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

2-Hydroxy-4-methoxy-benzaldehyde

1. Natural product research
2. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety

vanillin

1. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

4-Methoxysalicylic acid

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Cycloeucalenol

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

HMB

1. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety

IL-6

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

ISOVANILLIN

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Linalool

1. Natural product research

Periplocoside M

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Activities

Periploca sepium has 1 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer.

Anticancer

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Conditions

Periploca sepium has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, leukemia, liposarcoma, sarcoma.

Cancer

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Natural product research
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Rheumatoid arthritis

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Leukemia

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Liposarcoma

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Sarcoma

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Preparations

Periploca sepium has 4 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aqueous extract, root bark, root bark essential oil, root barks.

Aqueous extract

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Root bark

1. Natural product research

Root bark essential oil

1. Natural product research

Root barks

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica