Prunus salicina

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning across two major regions. In the Russian Far East, its presence is documented specifically within the Khabarovsk and Primorye territories. Moving toward Central Asia, the species can also be found growing in Turkmenistan. Additionally, its range extends into the mountainous landscapes of Tajikistan. Finally, the plant completes its regional distribution with occurrences found in Uzbekistan.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Prunus salicina is characterized by its preference for forest habitats, where it plays a role in the structural complexity of its environment. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, spanning from lower elevations of 400 m AMSL to much higher reaches reaching a maximum of 2600 m AMSL. On average, the plant is found at a mean elevation of 1057.5 m AMSL, indicating its ability to adapt to a wide range of montane and sub-montane environmental conditions within forested ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

2600 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1057.5 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

400 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest

Life history

The life history of Prunus salicina is characterized by its existence as a perennial organism, ensuring its survival across multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic buds well above the ground level, a structural strategy that helps it navigate its specific environmental niches. Its seasonal rhythm is defined by being deciduous, meaning it undergoes a period of dormancy where it sheds its foliage annually, typically in response to changing climatic conditions or seasonal shifts. This combination of a long-lived lifecycle and a specialized growth form allows it to establish a stable presence within its habitat.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Prunus salicina is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree. It is a self-supporting species that does not function as a climber or a liana, maintaining an independent lifestyle as it is neither a parasite nor an epiphyte, growing instead as a terrestrial plant. The plant exhibits significant vertical development, with its height ranging from a minimum of 2.5 m to a maximum of 12 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 7.75 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

12 m

Plant height mean:

7.75 m

Plant height min:

2.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Prunus salicina is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in varying environmental conditions. The vegetative structure is defined by its leaf morphology, where the leaf length typically exhibits a mean value of 6.25 cm, ranging from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 8 cm. Complementing these dimensions, the leaf width shows significant variability, with a mean measurement of 3.5 cm, spanning a minimum of 2 cm and reaching a maximum width of 5 cm. These morphological traits reflect the plant's physiological adaptations for optimizing light interception and gas exchange within its specific ecological niche.

Leaf length max:

8 cm

Leaf length mean:

6.25 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf width max:

5 cm

Leaf width mean:

3.5 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Prunus salicina is characterized by a diverse flowering season and the production of fleshy fruits containing significant seed structures. The flowering period typically begins in April and extends through September, though the timing can be variable across different environmental conditions. During the blooming phase, the flowers exhibit a size range with a minimum length of 1 cm and a maximum length of 2.2 cm. Following pollination, the plant develops fleshy fruits that vary in dimensions; the fruit length ranges from a minimum of 3.5 cm to a maximum of 5 cm (with a mean length of 4.25 cm), while the fruit width spans from 3.5 cm to a maximum of 5 cm (with a mean width of 4.25 cm). Within these fruits, the seeds are substantial, possessing a mean mass of approximately 0.78445 g, with individual seeds weighing as little as 0.5 g or as much as 1.0689 g. The seed volume remains consistent in its recorded measurements, showing a mean and extreme value of 1900 mm³.

Flower length max:

2.2 cm

Flower length min:

1 cm

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

5 cm

Fruit length mean:

4.25 cm

Fruit length min:

3.5 cm

Fruit width max:

5 cm

Fruit width mean:

4.25 cm

Fruit width min:

3.5 cm

Seed mass max:

1.0689 g

Seed mass mean:

0.78445 g

Seed mass min:

0.5 g

Seed volume max:

1900 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Prunus salicina has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit.

Fruit

1. Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases