Rubus swinhoei

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant is primarily found across several diverse regions within China. Its geographical range includes significant populations in China South-Central and China North-Central. Additionally, the species is widely distributed throughout China Southeast. Beyond the mainland, its presence extends into Eastern Asia, specifically within Taiwan. Together, these locations define the natural habitat of Rubus swinhoei.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Rubus swinhoei is characterized by its specific distribution across varying altitudinal gradients, primarily thriving within montane environments. This species occupies a broad elevational range, typically found at altitudes starting from a minimum of 300 m AMSL. It extends upward through various ecological zones, reaching a maximum elevation of 1500 m AMSL. On average, the plant is most commonly situated at a mean elevation of 900 m AMSL, suggesting a preference for mid-altitude habitats where environmental conditions such as temperature, moisture, and light availability are optimized for its growth and medicinal potency.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

900 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

300 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Rubus swinhoei is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a stable presence within its ecological niche. Throughout its developmental stages, the species exhibits a deciduous habit, shedding its foliage annually as part of its seasonal cycle to conserve resources during unfavorable periods. This combination of a long-lived perennial lifecycle and deciduousness dictates its rhythmic patterns of growth, dormancy, and seasonal regeneration.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Rubus swinhoei is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically manifesting as a shrub. This plant is a terrestrial species that grows independently, functioning as a non-parasitic organism rather than an epiphyte or a parasite. In terms of its physical stature, it is a self-supporting plant with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of 4 meters, with a mean height of approximately 2.5 meters. Although it possesses a shrub-like structure, its growth habit is described as self-supporting rather than acting as a liana or a vine.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

4 m

Plant height mean:

2.5 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Rubus swinhoei is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant's vegetative structure is defined by specific leaf morphometrics that support its physiological functions. The leaves exhibit a variable size range, with a minimum leaf length of 5 cm and a maximum leaf length reaching up to 11 cm, while the average leaf length is maintained at 8 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width ranges from a minimum of 2.5 cm to a maximum of 5 cm, with a mean width of 3.75 cm. These dimensions reflect the plant's surface area optimization for light interception and gas exchange within its ecological niche.

Leaf length max:

11 cm

Leaf length mean:

8 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

5 cm

Leaf width mean:

3.75 cm

Leaf width min:

2.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Rubus swinhoei is characterized by its flowering and fruiting stages, which involve specific morphological dimensions for both flowers and fruit. The flowers exhibit a size range with a minimum length of 1 cm and a maximum length of 1.5 cm. Following pollination, the plant produces fruit that typically maintains a balanced shape; the fruit length ranges from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 1.5 cm, with a mean length of 1.25 cm. Similarly, the fruit width varies from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 1.5 cm, maintaining a mean width of 1.25 cm. The reproductive cycle concludes with the production of seeds, which are remarkably consistent in size, possessing a mean, minimum, and maximum seed mass of 0.001 g.

Flower length max:

1.5 cm

Flower length min:

1 cm

Fruit length max:

1.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.25 cm

Fruit length min:

1 cm

Fruit width max:

1.5 cm

Fruit width mean:

1.25 cm

Fruit width min:

1 cm

Seed mass mean:

0.001 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Rubus swinhoei has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. Mitochondrial DNA. Part B, Resources