Scurrula parasitica
Scurrula parasitica, commonly known as the parasitic mistletoe, is a unique medicinal plant found in tropical regions. Often growing on host trees, it contains bioactive compounds used in traditional medicine to treat inflammation, fever, and various skin ailments. Its distinctive growth habit and therapeutic potential make it botanically fascinating.
- Scientific name: Scurrula parasitica
- Family: Loranthaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Santalales, it is classified under the family Loranthaceae and is identified by the genus Scurrula. Specifically, the medicinal species is known as Scurrula parasitica.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Santalales | WCVP |
| Family | Loranthaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Scurrula | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Scurrula parasitica, is referred to by various common names depending on the region and language. In Chinese, it is known as 红花寄生 (including the specific variation 四川寄生), with the simplified form 红花寄生 used in mainland China (zh-cn) and the traditional form 紅花寄生 used in Taiwan (zh-tw). Additionally, in Malayalam, the plant is identified by the name ചെറു ഇത്തിൾക്കണ്ണി.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 红花寄生 | Wikidata |
| ml | ചെറു ഇത്തിൾക്കണ്ണി | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 红花寄生 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 紅花寄生 | Wikidata |
| zh | 红花寄生（四川寄生） | Wikidata |
| zh | 柠檬寄生 | Wikidata |
| zh | 滇南寄生 | Wikidata |
| zh | 柏寄生 | Wikidata |
| zh | 桑寄生 | Wikidata |
| zh | 红花寄生 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical range across several distinct regions of East Asia. Within mainland China, it can be found throughout the South-Central provinces and the Southeast regions. Its distribution also extends to the island of Hainan and into the high-altitude areas of Tibet. Furthermore, the species is documented to grow in the territory of Taiwan. Collectively, these locations highlight the plant's presence across diverse habitats in the eastern part of the continent.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| China | Tibet | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Taiwan | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | East Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Nepal | WCVP |
Chemicals
Scurrula parasitica has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include cardiac glycosides.
- Total chemicals
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| cardiac glycosides | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |