Chinese gall

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Chinese gall
• Chinese sumac
• nutgall
• nutgalltree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Rhus javanica var. chinensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Rhus chinensis, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Sapindales and the family Anacardiaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Rhus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range that spans across multiple significant regions. In Western Asia, it can be found growing within the borders of Türkiye. Its distribution within China is particularly extensive, covering the South-Central provinces. Additionally, the species is present in the tropical landscape of Hainan. Finally, its reach extends to the North-Central and Southeast regions of China.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Rhus chinensis is characterized by its ability to thrive across a significant vertical gradient within its natural habitat. This species is typically found inhabiting montane environments, where it occupies an elevational range spanning from a minimum of 900 m AMSL to a maximum of 2800 m AMSL. Within this altitudinal belt, the plant adapts to varying environmental pressures, ranging from the warmer, more temperate conditions of lower slopes to the cooler, potentially more mist-prone or high-altitude climates of its upper limits. This wide elevational distribution allows it to colonize diverse ecological niches within mountain ecosystems, often playing a role in stabilizing slopes and contributing to the structural complexity of its specific forest or scrubland communities.

Elevational range max:

2800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

900 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Rhus chinensis is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody stems, a trait shared across its classifications as both a phanerophyte and specifically a phanerophyte life form. The species exhibits a deciduous habit, shedding its foliage annually in response to seasonal changes.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Rhus chinensis is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, typically reaching a mean plant height of approximately 6 m. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit epiphytic behavior, maintaining a self-supporting structure rather than functioning as a liana, vine, or climbing plant. Its development is defined by a robust, woody constitution that supports its upright, arboreal habit.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Plant height mean:

6 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Rhus chinensis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation process and energy production through the Calvin cycle. This metabolic strategy involves the initial fixation of CO2 into a three-carbon compound, a hallmark of plants operating under standard temperate environmental conditions. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form, instead relying on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil to meet its nutritional requirements.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Rhus chinensis is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily relying on animal vectors to facilitate genetic exchange. Specifically, the plant utilizes insect pollination, with bees serving as a significant functional group in its reproductive process. The species exhibits an absence of self-fertilization, necessitating cross-pollination to ensure successful reproduction. Following fertilization, the plant produces seeds that vary considerably in size; the seed mass ranges from a minimum of 0.00886 g to a maximum of 0.111 g, with an average seed mass of approximately 0.034945 g.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.111 g

Seed mass mean:

0.034945 g

Seed mass min:

0.00886 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Rhus chinensis has 4 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 fruit, leaf, root, stem.

Fruit

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Plant biotechnology journal

Leaf

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Root

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Stem

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Chemicals

Rhus chinensis has 16 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Tannins, Flavonoids, Gallic acid, As, Flavonoid.

Tannins

1. Scientific reports
2. Genetics and molecular research : GMR
3. Plant biotechnology journal

Flavonoids

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

Gallic acid

1. Plant disease
2. Plant biotechnology journal

As

1. Journal of environmental sciences (China)

Flavonoid

1. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Hydrolyzable Tannins

1. Plant biotechnology journal

METHYL GALLATE

1. Plant disease

Pedunculagin

1. Journal of chromatographic science

Quercetin 3-O-rhamnoside

1. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Tannin

1. Genes

Activities

Rhus chinensis has 6 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antioxidant, Antifungal, Antiviral.

Antibacterial

1. Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Anticancer

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antioxidant

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Antifungal

1. Advances in dental research

Antiviral

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Hepatoprotective

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Conditions

Rhus chinensis has 9 reported investigations on conditions identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include HIV-1, diarrhea, inflammation, Ralstonia solanacearum, diabetes mellitus.

Hiv-1

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Diarrhea

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Inflammation

1. Planta medica
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Ralstonia solanacearum

1. Plant disease

Diabetes mellitus

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Dysentery

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Gouty arthritis

1. Food & function

Hemorrhage

1. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Sepsis

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Preparations

Rhus chinensis has 11 reported preparations identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include EtOAc fraction, Galla chinensis, RC-1, RC-2, aqueous extract.

Etoac fraction

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Galla chinensis

1. Plant biotechnology journal

Rc-1

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Rc-2

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Butanol extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ethyl acetate extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Galls on rhus chinensis leaves

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Methanolic extract

1. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Petroleum ether extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology