Rhodiola dumulosa

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Sedum rariflorum
• Sedum farreri
• Sedum dumulosum
• Sedum dumulosum var. rendlei
• Rhodiola dumulosa f. farreri
• Rhodiola wulingense
• Sedum rendlei
• Sedum wulingense
• Sedum talihsiense
• Chamaerhodiola dumulosa
• Chamaerhodiola wulingensis

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 and order Saxifrages, it is a member of the family Crassulaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Rhodiola.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several distinct regions of China. It can be found growing within the landscapes of China South-Central and China North-Central. Additionally, its habitat extends into the northern territories of Inner Mongolia and Manchuria. The species is also documented to inhabit the high-altitude areas of Qinghai. Collectively, these locations highlight the diverse environmental range that Rhodiola dumulosa occupies throughout the country.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Rhodiola dumulosa is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its harsh alpine or subalpine habitats over many growing seasons. As a long-lived species, it establishes a robust root system that stores essential nutrients, enabling it to withstand extreme environmental fluctuations and seasonal dormancy. Its development follows a cyclic pattern where it emerges from the soil to undergo vegetative growth and flowering during the favorable summer months, eventually retreating into a period of metabolic rest during the freezing winter months. This perennial nature is a vital survival strategy, ensuring that the plant can regenerate and maintain its population within its specific ecological niche without needing to restart its life cycle from seed every year.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Rhodiola dumulosa is characterized by its growth form as a herb and a forb, exhibiting a non-woody structure throughout its vegetative parts.

Growth form :

herb

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Rhodiola dumulosa is characterized by specialized metabolic adaptations that allow it to thrive in harsh, high-altitude environments. Central to its survival strategy is its photosynthetic pathway, which is categorized under the C3, C4, and CAM spectrum, specifically exhibiting CAM (Crassulacean Acid Metabolism) characteristics to optimize water-use efficiency and carbon fixation under stressful conditions. This metabolic flexibility enables the plant to minimize transpirational water loss by fixing carbon dioxide at night, a crucial adaptation for maintaining cellular homeostasis in arid or alpine microclimates. Furthermore, its physiological processes are closely linked to the biosynthesis of bioactive secondary metabolites, which serve to protect cellular structures from oxidative stress and extreme temperature fluctuations.

Photosynthetic pathway :

CAM

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Rhodiola dumulosa has 11 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include BA, BETA-SITOSTEROL, Chrysophanol-8-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, Crenuloside, Herbacetin 8-methyl ether.

BA

1. Chinese herbal medicines

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Chrysophanol-8-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Crenuloside

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Herbacetin 8-methyl ether

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Indole-3-butyric acid

1. Chinese herbal medicines

N6-Benzyladenine

1. Chinese herbal medicines

NAA

1. Chinese herbal medicines

NAPHTHALENEACETIC ACID

1. Chinese herbal medicines

Rhodionin

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Preparations

Rhodiola dumulosa has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extract, rhizoma samples.

Extract

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Rhizoma samples

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials