Rehmannia chingii

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Rehmannia chingii f. albiflora
• Rehmannia chingii f. purpureopunctata

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is further categorized under the order Lamiales and the family Orobanchaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Rehmannia, specifically as the species Rehmannia chingii.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily located within the specific geographic regions of Southeast China. Its natural habitat is concentrated in these southern territories, where environmental conditions support its growth. Because of this localized presence, it is considered an endemic species to that particular area of the country. Researchers looking for this medicinal species focus their efforts on the Southeast provinces. Therefore, the geographical range of Rehmannia chingii is relatively restricted to this part of China.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Rehmannia chingii is characterized by its specific altitudinal preferences within its natural habitat. This species typically thrives at relatively low to mid-range elevations, with its distribution spanning a vertical gradient that begins at a minimum of 190 m AMSL. Throughout its ecological range, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 345 m AMSL, reaching its upper altitudinal limit at a maximum of 500 m AMSL. These elevation parameters suggest that the plant is adapted to specific environmental conditions found within these subtropical or temperate lowland zones.

Elevational range max:

500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

345 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

190 m AMSL

Morphology

The morphology of Rehmannia chingii is characterized by its stature as a herbaceous plant, typically exhibiting a height that ranges from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 0.6 m, with an average plant height of 0.45 m. The plant structure is defined by its fleshy, tuberous roots which serve as the primary storage organs. The foliage consists of large, broadly ovate to elliptical leaves that are often arranged in a basal rosette, featuring serrated margins and a textured surface. The flowering stems emerge from the center of the rosette, bearing small, actinomorphic flowers that are typically white or pale pink, which eventually give way to small fruit capsules.

Plant height max:

0.6 m

Plant height mean:

0.45 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Physiology

The physiological profile of Rehmannia chingii is characterized by distinct morphological variations in its foliar structures, which play a critical role in its metabolic processes and photosynthetic capacity. The leaves exhibit significant dimensional plasticity, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 6 cm to a maximum of 12 cm, maintaining an average length of approximately 9 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width demonstrates a similar range of variation, spanning from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 6 cm, with a mean width recorded at 4.5 cm. These dimensions reflect the plant's adaptive capacity to optimize light interception and gas exchange within its specific ecological niche, where the variance in leaf surface area serves to regulate transpiration rates and overall energy production.

Leaf length max:

12 cm

Leaf length mean:

9 cm

Leaf length min:

6 cm

Leaf width max:

6 cm

Leaf width mean:

4.5 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Rehmannia chingii is centered around the development of its fruit, which serves as the primary vessel for seed dispersal and the continuation of the species. The morphological characteristics of the fruit are remarkably consistent, showing no variation in size across observed samples. Specifically, the fruit length is characterized by a uniform measurement, with a minimum length of 1.4 cm, a maximum length of 1.4 cm, and a mean length of 1.4 cm. This precise dimensional stability in the fruit length of 1.4 cm suggests a highly standardized reproductive output during its fruiting stage.

Fruit length max:

1.4 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Rehmannia chingii 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 leaf, root.

Leaf

1. PeerJ

Root

1. PeerJ

Chemicals

Rehmannia chingii has 9 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Aucubin, ANTHOCYANIN, Catalpol, Coniferin, Daphnin.

Aucubin

1. PeerJ
2. Nature communications

ANTHOCYANIN

1. Physiologia plantarum

Catalpol

1. Nature communications

Coniferin

1. PeerJ

Daphnin

1. PeerJ

Flavonoids

1. PeerJ

Protocatechuic acid 4-O-glucoside

1. PeerJ

Tangeretin

1. PeerJ

guanosine

1. PeerJ