Polygonatum kingianum

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Polygonatum kingianum var. ericoideum
• Polygonatum kingianum var. grandifolium
• Polygonatum darrisii
• Polygonatum esquirolii
• Polygonatum ericoideum
• Galium tuberosum
• Polygonatum cavaleriei
• Polygonatum huanum
• Polygonatum uncinatum
• Polygonatum agglutinatum
• Polygonatum kingianum var. uncinatum
• Polygonatum kingianum var. cavaleriei
• Polygonatum vietnamicum

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Polygonatum kingianum, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Asparagales and the family Asparagaceae. Ultimately, it is placed within the genus Polygonatum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across parts of East and Southeast Asia. Within China, it can be found growing in the South-Central and Southeast regions. Its range also extends into the Indo-China peninsula, covering several distinct countries. Specifically, it is documented to inhabit the natural landscapes of Myanmar and Thailand. Additionally, the species is widely distributed throughout the territory of Vietnam.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Polygonatum kingianum is characterized by its specific distribution across diverse altitudinal gradients in mountainous terrains. This species thrives within a broad elevational range, beginning at lower montane elevations of approximately 700 m AMSL and extending upward to high-altitude environments reaching a maximum of 3600 m AMSL. Throughout its natural habitat, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 2150 m AMSL, suggesting a preference for mid-to-high altitude ecological niches where specific temperature and moisture regimes are met. This wide altitudinal breadth allows the species to inhabit various microclimates, from temperate montane forests to more rugged, high-elevation zones.

Elevational range max:

3600 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2150 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

700 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Polygonatum kingianum is characterized by its specialized survival strategies as a perennial herb, specifically functioning through a dual classification of life forms. It exists primarily as a geophyte, relying on underground storage organs to endure unfavorable environmental conditions and facilitate regrowth. This geophytic nature is complemented by its status as a cryptophyte, where the essential regenerative parts of the plant remain protected beneath the soil surface or leaf litter during dormant periods. This biological strategy allows the plant to navigate seasonal shifts by sequestering energy in rhizomes, ensuring its persistence in its natural habitat despite surface-level fluctuations.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Polygonatum kingianum is characterized by its growth habit as a self-supporting climber, utilizing its structural integrity to ascend without requiring external hosts for support. It functions as an independent organism, showing no parasitic tendencies toward other plants. Furthermore, rather than behaving as an epiphyte, this species maintains a terrestrial existence, establishing its root system and life cycle within the soil of its natural habitat.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Parasite :

independent

Physiology

The physiological structure of the foliage in Polygonatum kingianum is characterized by significant variability in leaf dimensions, reflecting its adaptive growth patterns. The leaves exhibit a broad range of lengths, with minimum measurements recorded at 6 cm, a mean length of approximately 13 cm, and a maximum potential reach of up to 20 cm. Complementing this longitudinal variation is a distinct breadth in leaf width, which fluctuates from a narrow minimum of 0.3 cm to a maximum width of 3 cm. This morphological plasticity in leaf surface area suggests a physiological capacity to optimize light interception and gas exchange within its specific environmental niche.

Leaf length max:

20 cm

Leaf length mean:

13 cm

Leaf length min:

6 cm

Leaf width max:

3 cm

Leaf width min:

0.3 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Polygonatum kingianum has 2 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include rhizome, root.

Rhizome

1. Food chemistry: X
2. Frontiers in plant science
3. International journal of biological macromolecules
4. PloS one

Root

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

Chemicals

Polygonatum kingianum has 39 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Polysaccharide, glucose, Flavonoid, Isoflavones.

Flavonoids

1. Molecular biology reports
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Frontiers in nutrition
4. Genes
5. Plant disease

Polysaccharide

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Frontiers in plant science
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

glucose

1. RSC advances
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Flavonoid

1. BMC plant biology
2. PloS one

Isoflavones

1. Frontiers in nutrition
2. Plant disease

LIGNIN

1. BMC plant biology
2. Plant disease

Saponins

1. BMC plant biology
2. Frontiers in nutrition

Terpenoids

1. Molecular biology reports
2. Food chemistry: X

fructose

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

galactose

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

Activities

Polygonatum kingianum has 1 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiproliferative.

Antiproliferative

1. Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)

Conditions

Polygonatum kingianum has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include HIV, Yin deficiency, hypoglycemic.

Hiv

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

Yin deficiency

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

Hypoglycemic

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Preparations

Polygonatum kingianum has 7 reported preparations identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include "Nine Cycles of Steaming and Sun-Drying", dry rhizomes, multiple steaming and roasting, nine steaming and nine drying, root.

"nine cycles of steaming and sun-drying"

1. Food chemistry: X

Dry rhizomes

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Multiple steaming and roasting

1. Frontiers in plant science

Nine steaming and nine drying

1. Talanta

Root

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

Steaming with black beans

1. Frontiers in nutrition

Traditional medicine

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie