Salacia chinensis

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Salacia chinensis var. latifolia
• Salacia littoralis
• Salacia latifolia
• Tontelea chinensis
• Salacia evonymiflora
• Salacia prinoides var. parvifolia
• Salacia prinoides var. timorensis
• Salacia naumannii
• Salacia podopetala
• Salacia prinoides
• Salacia chinensis var. parvifolia
• Tonsella chinensis
• Tontelea prinoides
• Johnia serrata
• Johnia coromandeliana
• Salacia socia
• Salacia patens

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Celastrales, belonging to the family Celastraceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Salacia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across several key regions in Asia. In China, it can be found specifically throughout the Southeast portion of the country. Within the Indian Subcontinent, its presence is noted in the state of Assam and across various parts of India. It also grows within the unique ecological zone of the East Himalaya. Furthermore, the species extends its range into the neighboring territory of Bangladesh.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Salacia chinensis is characterized by its specific distribution across varying altitudes within its native habitats. This species typically thrives in a diverse altitudinal gradient, occupying environments from low-lying areas up to higher elevations. Specifically, its elevational range begins at a minimum of 60 m AMSL and extends to a maximum of 700 m AMSL. Throughout its natural range, the plant maintains an average elevation of approximately 380 m AMSL, a factor that influences the specific microclimates and environmental conditions it encounters during growth.

Elevational range max:

700 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

380 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

60 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Salacia chinensis is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, meaning it maintains its biological functions and structure over many years rather than completing its cycle in a single season. As a woody climber, its developmental trajectory involves a long-term growth pattern where it establishes a permanent presence within its tropical forest habitat. Throughout its multi-year existence, the plant undergoes continuous vegetative growth, extending its climbing stems to reach higher light intensities in the canopy, alongside periodic reproductive phases. This perennial nature allows the species to invest significant energy into robust root systems and durable woody tissues, ensuring survival through varying seasonal conditions and providing a stable foundation for its long-term ecological role.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Salacia chinensis is characterized by its woody structure and its growth habit as a liana, functioning as an obligatory climber. Reaching an average plant height of approximately 3.5 m, the species exhibits a shrub-like growth form within its ecosystem. As a terrestrial plant, it is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte, maintaining an independent lifestyle without being a parasite on other organisms.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

3.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Salaacia chinensis is characterized by specific morphological dimensions of its foliage and its metabolic relationship with soil nutrients. The leaves exhibit significant variability in size, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 11 cm, maintaining a mean leaf length of approximately 8 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width spans from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 5 cm. Regarding its nutrient acquisition processes, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the substrate rather than through symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Leaf length max:

11 cm

Leaf length mean:

8 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

5 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Salacia chinensis is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily driven by insect vectors. This reliance on animal-mediated pollination ensures the transfer of genetic material necessary for the development of its reproductive structures. The resulting fruits are relatively uniform in their dimensions, exhibiting a consistent morphology where both the length and width typically measure approximately 1 cm. Specifically, the fruit length maintains a mean, minimum, and maximum value of 1 cm, while the fruit width is similarly constrained, with a minimum, mean, and maximum value all recorded at 1 cm. This standardized fruit size suggests a highly specific developmental pattern following successful insect pollination.

Fruit length max:

1 cm

Fruit width max:

1 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Salacia chinensis 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, stem.

Leaf

1. Natural product research

Stem

1. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Salacia chinensis has 9 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include BETA-SITOSTEROL, ETHYL GALLATE, Gallic acid, Hentriacontanol, Isorhamnetin.

BETA-SITOSTEROL

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

ETHYL GALLATE

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

Gallic acid

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

Hentriacontanol

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

Isorhamnetin

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

Lupeol

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

beta-Daucosterol

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

hentriacontan-12-ol

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

quercetin

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

Preparations

Salacia chinensis has 2 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include 80% aqueous methanolic extract, leaf.

80% aqueous methanolic extract

1. Journal of natural products

Leaf

1. Natural product research