Yellow flax

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Yellow flax
• Pyoli

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Kittelocharis trigyna
• Macrolinum trigynum
• Reinwardtia trigyna

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Reinwardtia indica, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Malpighiales and the family Linaeaee. Its taxonomic journey concludes within the genus Reinwardtia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse range of habitats across several distinct regions. In the Western Indian Ocean, its presence is noted in both Mauritius and Réunion. Moving toward the Asian continent, it is found within the South-Central and Southeast regions of China. Additionally, its distribution extends further into Eastern Asia, specifically reaching Japan. Consequently, these varied locations highlight the broad geographical spread of Reinwardtia indica.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Reinwardtia indica is characterized by a specific altitudinal distribution across its native habitats. This species typically thrives within a broad vertical gradient, occupying diverse montane environments. Its elevational range spans from a minimum of 550 m AMSL to a maximum of 2300 m AMSL, reflecting an ability to adapt to varying atmospheric pressures and temperature regimes. On average, the plant is most commonly situated at a mean elevation of 1425 m AMSL, a positioning that likely optimizes its physiological requirements for moisture availability and light intensity within its ecological niche.

Elevational range max:

2300 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1425 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

550 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Reinwardtia indica is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, meaning it persists through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its life cycle in a single year. As a long-lived woody shrub, it undergoes a continuous developmental process that allows it to establish a stable presence within its natural habitat. Its lifecycle involves an initial vegetative establishment phase, followed by periodic reproductive cycles where it produces flowers and seeds to ensure population continuity. Because it is perennial, the plant can withstand seasonal fluctuations, often re-sprouting or maintaining its structural integrity during dormant periods, which distinguishes it from annual or biennial species that have more transient life histories.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Reinwardtia indica is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub, typically reaching a mean plant height of approximately 1 m. As a terrestrial species, it grows directly in the soil rather than as an epiphyte. Structurally, the plant is self-supporting, meaning it does not function as an obligatory or facultative climber, but instead maintains its upright, shrubby stature through its woody tissue.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Plant height mean:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Reinwardtia indica is characterized by distinct morphological variations in its foliar dimensions, which influence its photosynthetic capacity and transpiration rates. The leaf architecture exhibits significant plasticity, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a mean value of 5.4 cm, reaching a maximum extension of 8.8 cm. Complementing this longitudinal variation, the leaf width demonstrates a specialized range, spanning from a minimum of 0.7 cm to a maximum of 3.5 cm. These fluctuating leaf dimensions suggest an adaptive physiological strategy to optimize light interception and gas exchange within its specific ecological niche.

Leaf length max:

8.8 cm

Leaf length mean:

5.4 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf width max:

3.5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.7 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Reinwardtia indica is primarily facilitated through its flowering process, which produces blossoms characterized by a distinct size range. The flowers exhibit significant variability in their dimensions, with individual flower lengths measuring as little as 1.4 cm at their minimum and reaching a maximum of up to 3 cm. These floral structures serve as the essential reproductive organs, facilitating the necessary biological processes for seed production and species propagation.

Flower length max:

3 cm

Flower length min:

1.4 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Reinwardtia indica has 3 reported plant parts identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, flower, stem.

Leaf

1. Metabolic brain disease
2. Microbial pathogenesis
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
4. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Flower

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Stem

1. Microbial pathogenesis

Chemicals

Reinwardtia indica has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CAT, Flavonoid, GSH, RUTIN, SOD.

CAT

1. Metabolic brain disease

Flavonoid

1. BMC plant biology

GSH

1. Metabolic brain disease

RUTIN

1. BMC plant biology

SOD

1. Metabolic brain disease

Tannins

1. BMC plant biology

acetylcholine

1. Metabolic brain disease

phenol

1. BMC plant biology

Activities

Reinwardtia indica has 6 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antimicrobial, Antitumor.

Antioxidant

1. Metabolic brain disease
2. Microbial pathogenesis
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
4. BMC plant biology

Antibacterial

1. Microbial pathogenesis

Antifungal

1. Microbial pathogenesis

Antimicrobial

1. BMC plant biology

Antitumor

1. BMC plant biology

Neuroprotective

1. Metabolic brain disease

Medicinal Uses

Reinwardtia indica has 11 reported medicinal uses identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include paralysis, wound healing, backaches, cerebral ischemia, headaches.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations