SAMBUCUS WILLIAMSII WHOLE

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• William's elder
• Korean Elder
• North China red elder

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Sambucus buergeriana
• Sambucus williamsii subsp. coreana
• Sambucus sieboldiana var. buergeriana
• Sambucus sieboldiana var. pinnatisecta
• Sambucus junnanica
• Sambucus latipinna var. coreana
• Sambucus latipinna
• Sambucus potaninii
• Sambucus peninsularis
• Sambucus barbinervis
• Sambucus foetidissima
• Sambucus racemosa subsp. dahurica
• Sambucus racemosa subsp. manshurica
• Sambucus williamsii var. coreana
• Sambucus coreana
• Sambucus sieboldiana var. coreana
• Sambucus buergeriana f. cordifoliata
• Sambucus foetidissima f. flava
• Sambucus microsperma
• Sambucus manshurica

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Dipsacales. Finally, it falls into the family Viburnaceae and is situated within the genus Sambucus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily found across the vast territories of northern Asia. Its distribution includes several key regions within Siberia, such as Buryatiya, Chitа, and Irkutsk. It also extends further north into the expansive landscapes of Yakutiya. Additionally, the species can be located within the Russian Far East, specifically in the Amur region. These diverse locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in various Siberian and Far Eastern environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Sambucus williamsii is defined by its preference for diverse and often rugged terrains, where it thrives within forest ecosystems and mountainous regions. It is frequently found in proximity to water sources, such as rivers, or occupying stony places where the substrate provides necessary drainage and stability. This adaptability allows the species to establish itself in varied microhabitats, ranging from the shaded understories of woodland environments to the more exposed, rocky slopes of higher elevations.

Habitat :

forest, mountains, rivers, stony places

Life history

The life history of Sambucus williamsii is characterized by its status as a perennial, meaning it persists through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its life cycle in a single year. As a perennial woody shrub, it undergoes an annual cycle of seasonal growth, typically marked by the emergence of new shoots in the spring, followed by a period of flowering and fruit development during the warmer months. Following the reproductive phase, the plant enters a period of dormancy during the colder months to conserve energy and survive unfavorable environmental conditions. This recurring cycle of growth, reproduction, and dormancy allows the plant to establish a stable presence within its ecological niche, contributing to its long-term survival and ability to regenerate through both seed production and vegetative persistence.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Sambucus williamsii is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub, reaching a maximum plant height of 5 meters. It functions as an independent organism, exhibiting neither parasitic nor epiphytic tendencies, as it maintains a terrestrial habit rather than an aquatic or semiaquatic existence. Structurally, the plant is self-supporting, lacking the characteristics of a climber, liana, or vine, and relies on its sturdy, woody framework to maintain its upright stature.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Sambucus williamsii is characterized by its reliance on the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a mechanism typical of most woody angiosperms where carbon fixation occurs primarily through the Calvin cycle within the mesophyll cells. This metabolic process involves the direct carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) by the enzyme RuBisCO, which results in the production of 3-phosphoglycerate. Because it utilizes the C3 pathway, the plant's gas exchange and energy production are closely tied to its stomatal conductance and environmental moisture availability, as it lacks the specialized CO2-concentrating mechanisms found in C4 or CAM species. Consequently, its physiological efficiency in terms of water-use effectiveness and carbon assimilation is highly dependent on ambient temperature and light intensity, influencing its overall growth patterns and secondary metabolite synthesis within its specific ecological niche.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Sambucus williamsii is closely tied to its seasonal flowering cycle, which is characterized by a specific and concentrated period of bloom. The flowering process is primarily concentrated within the month of June, serving as the critical window for pollination and subsequent seed development. According to botanical observations, the flowering start occurs in June, and the flowering end also concludes within June, indicating a brief but synchronized reproductive phase. This temporal pattern suggests that the plant relies on a specific environmental window to facilitate its reproductive success, likely timed to coincide with the activity of its specific pollinators.

Flowering time :

Jun

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Sambucus williamsii 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 stem.

Stem

1. Biochimie

Chemicals

Sambucus williamsii has 9 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (+)-Medioresinol, (+)-Pinoresinol, Flavonoids, Glochidioboside, Glycosides.

(+)-Medioresinol

1. Biochimie

(+)-Pinoresinol

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Glochidioboside

1. Biochemical and biophysical research communications

Glycosides

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Lariciresinol

1. Biochemical and biophysical research communications

Phenols

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Sugars

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Terpenoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Sambucus williamsii has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antifungal.

Antifungal

1. Biochemical and biophysical research communications

Conditions

Sambucus williamsii has 12 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include inflammation, Candida albicans, acute lung injury, antidiabetic, antioxidant.

Inflammation

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. International journal of biological macromolecules

Candida albicans

1. Biochemical and biophysical research communications

Acute lung injury

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Antidiabetic

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Antioxidant

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Apoptosis

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Blood circulation

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Femoral fracture

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fracture healing

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Osteogenesis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Sambucus williamsii has 2 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include glochidioboside, twigs.

Glochidioboside

1. Biochemical and biophysical research communications

Twigs

1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters