Amur cork-tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Amur cork-tree
• Chinese cork-tree
• Japanese cork-tree
• northern cork-tree
• phellodendron
• Chinese corktree
• phellodendron-bark

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Phellodendron insulare
• Phellodendron amurense var. suberosum
• Phellodendron japonicum
• Phellodendron molle
• Phellodendron nikkomontanum
• Phellodendron piriforme
• Phellodendron lavalleei
• Phellodendron kodamanum
• Phellodendron amurense var. molle
• Phellodendron amurense f. molle
• Phellodendron amurense var. lavalleei
• Phellodendron sachalinense
• Phellodendron amurense f. insulare
• Phellodendron amurense f. suberosum
• Phellodendron sachalinense var. suberosum
• Phellodendron amurense var. sachalinense
• Phellodendron sachalinense f. longipes

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Sapindales and the family Rutaceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Phelloodendron.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution that spans across distinct regions of Eurasia. In Southeastern Europe, its presence is documented within the territories of Bulgaria and Romania. Moving toward the Asian continent, the species is found extensively throughout the Russian Far East. Specifically, it inhabits the Amur and Khabarovsk regions of this vast area. Additionally, the plant can be located as far east as the Kuril Islands.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Phellodendron amurense is characterized by its preference for specific terrain and vegetation structures, primarily thriving within forest ecosystems and mountainous regions. As a component of these woodland environments, the species occupies niches where it can integrate into the complex layers of the forest canopy and understory. Its presence in mountainous habitats suggests an adaptation to varying elevations and the specific microclimates provided by sloped, well-drained terrains. Within these forest settings, the plant interacts with diverse biotic and abiotic factors, relying on the shaded or semi-shaded conditions typical of montane woodlands to support its growth and lifecycle.

Habitat :

forest, mountains

Life history

The life history of Phelloendron amurense is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over many successive growing seasons. As a deciduous plant, it undergoes a seasonal cycle where it sheds its foliage annually, typically in response to changing environmental conditions or temperature shifts, before entering a period of dormancy. This lifecycle enables the plant to conserve energy and resources during unfavorable periods, ensuring its long-term survival and continued growth within its ecological niche.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Phellodendron amurense is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree. This species is classified as an independent organism, functioning neither as a parasite nor as an epiphyte, maintaining a primarily terrestrial existence within its habitat. It exhibits a self-supporting structure, lacking the climbing or vining habits seen in other forest species. In terms of stature, the plant reaches significant dimensions, with a height ranging from a minimum of 10 meters to a maximum of 15 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15 m

Plant height min:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Phellodendron amurense is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. Its vegetative morphology features ovate-shaped leaves with entire margins, lacking any specialized defensive structures such as leaf thorns or leaf spines. Structurally, the plant exhibits a stem specific density (SSD) with a mean value of 449 mg/cm³, reflecting its internal wood density and mechanical properties.

Leaf form :

ovate

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

449 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Phellodendron amurense is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering period and the production of relatively small seeds. The plant typically enters its flowering stage in June and concludes this reproductive phase in July. The seeds produced during this cycle exhibit a range of sizes, with a minimum seed mass recorded at 0.0058 g and a maximum seed mass reaching 0.01582 g. On average, the seed mass for this species is approximately 0.010793 g, reflecting a consistent pattern in its reproductive output.

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Jul

Seed mass max:

0.01582 g

Seed mass mean:

0.010793 g

Seed mass min:

0.0058 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Phellodendron amurense has 3 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 fruit, leaf, root.

Fruit

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan

Leaf

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan

Root

1. Frontiers in plant science

Chemicals

Phellodendron amurense has 45 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include berberine, Jatrorrhizine, Magnoflorine, Palmatine, Phellodendrine.

berberine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Frontiers in plant science
4. Journal of natural medicines
5. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Jatrorrhizine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Frontiers in plant science
4. Journal of separation science
5. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Magnoflorine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Frontiers in plant science

Palmatine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Frontiers in plant science
4. Journal of separation science
5. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Phellodendrine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Frontiers in plant science

Obaculactone

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Obacunone

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Limonin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of natural medicines

7-Dehydrostigmasterol

1. Dr. Duke

Amurensine

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Phellodendron amurense has 322 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antioxidant, Antiangiogenic, Antibacterial, (+)-Inotropic.

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Life (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in medicine
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiangiogenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Life (Basel, Switzerland)

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

(+)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Adrenocorticotrophic

1. Dr. Duke

Adrenolytic

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Phellodendron amurense has 32 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include anxiety, Anger, Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida parapsilosis.

Anxiety

1. Alternative therapies in health and medicine
2. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition

Anger

1. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition

Candida albicans

1. The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy

Candida glabrata

1. The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy

Candida parapsilosis

1. The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy

Confusion

1. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition

Depression

1. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition

Fatigue

1. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition

Abdominal pain

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Atopic dermatitis

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Preparations

Phellodendron amurense has 5 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Phellodendri Cortex, bark, diet supplement, extracts, soaked pericarp of P. amurense in distilled water at 4 degrees C.

Phellodendri cortex

1. Archives of pharmacal research
2. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan

Bark

1. Planta medica

Diet supplement

1. Fish & shellfish immunology

Extracts

1. Fitoterapia

Soaked pericarp of p. amurense in distilled water at 4 degrees c

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