Formosan cherry

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Formosan cherry
• Taiwan cherry
• bellflower cherry

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Prunus campanulata var. wuyiensis
• Cerasus campanulata var. wuyiensis
• Cerasus wuyiensis
• Prunus campanulata f. albiflora
• Cerasus cerasoides var. campanulata
• Prunus cerasoides var. campanulata
• Cerasus campanulata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae, the order Rosales, and the family Rosaceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Prunus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution that spans several key regions across East Asia and beyond. Within China, its presence is noted in both the Hainan province and the broader China Southeast region. Its range extends further into Eastern Asia, specifically encompassing the Nansei-shoto islands and Taiwan. Interestingly, the species has also established itself in the Southern Hemisphere within New Zealand North. Collectively, these locations illustrate a wide-reaching habitat for Prunus campanulata.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Prunus campanulata is closely tied to its specific altitudinal distribution within its native habitat. This species typically thrives within a defined vertical gradient, occupying an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 100 m AMSL. As the terrain ascends, the plant is commonly found at a mean elevation of approximately 350 m AMSL, though its ecological niche extends upward to a maximum elevation of 600 m AMSL. This specific altitudinal belt dictates the environmental variables, such as temperature regimes and moisture availability, to which the plant must adapt to sustain its growth and medicinal properties.

Elevational range max:

600 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

350 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

100 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Prunus campanulata is characterized by its status as a perennial species, ensuring its long-term presence within its natural ecosystem. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are elevated above the ground level on woody stems, a structural adaptation that defines its growth habit. This plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage annually in response to seasonal changes, which plays a critical role in its physiological cycle and resource management. Throughout its life cycle, the plant maintains its structural integrity through these woody, perennial frameworks, navigating seasonal shifts through its deciduous phenology.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Prunus campanulata is characterized by its woody growth form, which can manifest as both a tree and a shrub. As a self-supporting plant, it does not require external structures for climbing. The plant exhibits significant variation in stature, with heights ranging from a minimum of 3 m to a maximum of 8 m, maintaining a mean plant height of approximately 5.25 m.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Plant height max:

8 m

Plant height mean:

5.25 m

Plant height min:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Prunus campanulata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy typical of many temperate woody species that facilitates carbon fixation under moderate environmental conditions. The vegetative morphology of the plant is defined by its foliar dimensions, which exhibit significant variability in size. The leaves typically maintain a mean length of 5.5 cm, though they can range from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum length of 11 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width shows a mean value of 3.625 cm, with measurements spanning from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum width of 4.5 cm. These leaf dimensions reflect the plant's physiological capacity for light interception and gas exchange within its ecological niche.

Leaf length max:

11 cm

Leaf length mean:

5.5 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf width max:

4.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

3.625 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Prunus campanulata is characterized by the development of distinct floral and fruit structures that follow specific morphological dimensions. The flowering stage produces blossoms with a length that typically ranges from a minimum of 1.5 cm up to a maximum of 2 cm. Following successful pollination, the plant transitions to fruit production, yielding drupes with notable variability in size. The fruit length generally fluctuates between a minimum of 1 cm and a maximum of 1.1 cm, maintaining a mean length of approximately 1.1 cm. Regarding the fruit width, the dimensions range from a minimum of 0.5 cm to a maximum of 0.775 cm, with a recorded maximum width of 0.6 cm in specific instances, resulting in an overall mean fruit width of 0.775 cm.

Flower length max:

2 cm

Flower length min:

1.5 cm

Fruit length max:

1 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.1 cm

Fruit width max:

0.6 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.775 cm

Fruit width min:

0.5 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Prunus campanulata has 2 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 fruit, leaf.

Fruit

1. Acta parasitologica

Leaf

1. Acta parasitologica

Chemicals

Prunus campanulata has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Cardiac Glycosides, Flavonoids, Isoflavones, Ursolic acid, docosyl ferulate.

Cardiac Glycosides

1. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology

Flavonoids

1. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology

Isoflavones

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Ursolic acid

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

docosyl ferulate

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Prunus campanulata has 3 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include AntiBPH, Antimicrobial, Astringent.

AntiBPH

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antimicrobial

1. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology

Astringent

1. Plant disease

Preparations

Prunus campanulata has 4 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include PC extract, acetone extracts, crude methanolic and aqueous extracts, fractions obtained by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RPHPLC).

Pc extract

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Acetone extracts

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Crude methanolic and aqueous extracts

1. Acta parasitologica

Fractions obtained by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (rphplc)

1. Acta parasitologica