Salacia hainanensis

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant is known to have a very specific and limited natural range. According to botanical records, its distribution is concentrated within a single country. Specifically, the species can be found growing in China. Within this nation, its presence is restricted to the tropical island of Hainan. This localized habitat makes it a unique component of the region's flora.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Salacia hainanensis is characterized by its specific altitudinal distribution within its native habitat, where it thrives across a defined vertical gradient. This species is primarily found at low to mid-level elevations, occupying a niche that begins at a minimum altitude of 40 m AMSL. The species demonstrates a preference for lower terrain, with an average elevational range centered around 185 m AMSL, though its presence extends upward to a maximum elevation of 330 m AMSL. This narrow elevational band suggests that the plant is adapted to specific environmental conditions, such as temperature ranges and moisture levels, typical of these lowland tropical or subtropical forest strata.

Elevational range max:

330 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

185 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

40 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Salacia hainanensis is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, meaning it persists through multiple growing seasons and maintains its life cycle over a long duration rather than completing it within a single year. As a woody climber or shrub, its developmental strategy focuses on long-term survival and continuous growth within its native tropical forest habitats. This perennial nature allows the plant to establish a robust structural presence, enabling it to navigate its ecological niche through repeated cycles of vegetative growth and seasonal reproductive phases.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Salacia hainanensis is characterized by its distinct growth habit and structural composition. It functions as a self-supporting climber, utilizing its physical structure to ascend through its environment. In terms of its growth form, the plant is classified as a shrub, exhibiting a robust and perennial architecture. Furthermore, the specimen possesses a woody nature, featuring lignified tissues that provide the necessary strength for its climbing and shrub-like development.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

shrub

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiological characteristics of the foliage in Salacia haenanenis are defined by specific morphological dimensions that govern its photosynthetic surface area and resource acquisition. The leaves exhibit a significant range in longitudinal development, with a minimum length of 12 cm and a mean length of 14.5 cm, reaching a maximum elongation of 17 cm. Complementing this vertical dimension is a lateral span that varies from a minimum width of 5 cm to a maximum width of 7.5 cm. These measurements indicate a robust leaf structure capable of supporting the plant's metabolic requirements through optimized light interception and gas exchange within its native environment.

Leaf length max:

17 cm

Leaf length mean:

14.5 cm

Leaf length min:

12 cm

Leaf width max:

7.5 cm

Leaf width min:

5 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Salacia hainanensis is characterized by the development of distinct fruit structures that exhibit a high degree of uniformity in their dimensions. The fruit is notably consistent in size, maintaining a mean length of 4 cm and a mean width of 4 cm. This dimensional stability is further evidenced by the fact that the minimum, maximum, and average measurements for both length and width are identical, with the fruit length ranging specifically at 4 cm and the fruit width also measuring exactly 4 cm. This lack of variance in the fruit's physical dimensions suggests a highly standardized morphological profile during the reproductive stage of the plant.

Fruit length max:

4 cm

Fruit width max:

4 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Salacia hainanensis 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. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Preparations

Salacia hainanensis has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include roots.

Roots

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