Psammosilene tunicoides

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Caryophyllales, it falls under the family Caryophyllaceae. Specifically, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement in the genus Psammosilene.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across parts of Asia. Within China, it can be found growing in the South-Central regions. Additionally, its habitat extends into the high-altitude areas of Tibet. The species also reaches into the Indo-China region. Specifically, one of its notable locations is found in Thailand.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Psammosilene tunicoides is defined by its presence in high-altitude montane environments, where it occupies a specific vertical niche within the landscape. This species is typically found across a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from a minimum elevation of 2000 m AMSL to a maximum peak of 3800 m AMSL. Throughout its natural habitat, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 2900 m AMSL, indicating a strong preference for subalpine or alpine zones. These elevations suggest that the plant is adapted to the unique climatic conditions associated with high-altitude ecosystems, such as lower temperatures, increased UV exposure, and specialized soil compositions characteristic of these mountainous reaches.

Elevational range max:

3800 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2900 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

2000 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Psammosilene tunicoides is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle in a single year. This longevity enables the species to establish a stable presence within its ecological niche, often adapting its growth patterns to the availability of seasonal resources. As a perennial, it can undergo various stages of development over several years, contributing to its long-term survival and reproductive success in its native habitat.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Psammosilene tunicoides is characterized by its growth form as a herb, presenting a non-woody structure throughout its vegetative development. As a climbing plant, it functions as a self-supporting climber, utilizing its herbaceous stems to navigate its environment without the requirement of external structural support.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

herb

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Psammosilene tunicoides is characterized by distinct morphological dimensions of its foliage, which play a critical role in its metabolic processes and surface area regulation. The leaves exhibit a variable size range, with lengths fluctuating between a minimum of 1.5 cm and a maximum of 2.5 cm, maintaining an average leaf length of approximately 2 cm. Complementing this longitudinal variation, the leaf width is constrained within a narrow margin, measuring as little as 1 cm at its minimum and reaching a maximum of 1.5 cm. These specific leaf dimensions contribute to the plant's overall structural efficiency, influencing its gas exchange capabilities and photosynthetic capacity within its ecological niche.

Leaf length max:

2.5 cm

Leaf length mean:

2 cm

Leaf length min:

1.5 cm

Leaf width max:

1.5 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Psammosilene tunicoides is characterized by specific morphological dimensions of its reproductive structures, particularly regarding its flowers and fruits. The flowering stage produces blossoms with varying dimensions, where the flower length ranges from a minimum of 0.3 cm to a maximum of 0.5 cm. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruits that exhibit high morphological consistency; the fruit length is uniform across observed specimens, maintaining a minimum, mean, and maximum length of 0.7 cm. This stability in fruit size suggests a highly standardized developmental process during the seed-bearing phase of its life cycle.

Flower length max:

0.5 cm

Flower length min:

0.3 cm

Fruit length max:

0.7 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Psammosilene tunicoides has 1 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 root.

Root

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
3. Phytochemistry
4. Planta medica
5. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Chemicals

Psammosilene tunicoides has 18 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Gypsogenin, Quillaic acid, BETA-SITOSTEROL, Cyclo(-Pro-Pro-), Daucosterol.

Gypsogenin

1. ACS synthetic biology
2. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Quillaic acid

1. ACS synthetic biology
2. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

BETA-SITOSTEROL

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

Cyclo(-Pro-Pro-)

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

Daucosterol

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

Flavonoid

1. Frontiers in microbiology

Flavonoids

1. Frontiers in microbiology

Goyaprosaponin

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

OA

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

QUILLAIC ACID 3-O-GLUCURONIDE

1. Phytochemistry

Activities

Psammosilene tunicoides has 2 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antioxidant.

Analgesic

1. Scientific data

Antioxidant

1. Frontiers in microbiology

Conditions

Psammosilene tunicoides has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include analgesic, antioxidant.

Analgesic

1. Scientific data

Antioxidant

1. Frontiers in microbiology

Preparations

Psammosilene tunicoides has 7 reported preparations identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include hairy root cultures, "Yunnan Baiyao", Yunnan Baiyao Powder, ethanolic extract, hairy roots.

Hairy root cultures

1. Frontiers in genetics
2. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

"yunnan baiyao"

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

Yunnan baiyao powder

1. ACS synthetic biology

Ethanolic extract

1. Phytochemistry

Hairy roots

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Root

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

Total triterpene saponins extracted from the root of psammosilene tunicoides

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica