Serissa japonica

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Dysoda foetida
• Leptodermis nervosa
• Leptodermis venosa
• Serissa foetida f. plena
• Serissa foetida f. pleniflora
• Dysoda fasciculata
• Democritea serissoides
• Lycium japonicum
• Lycium foetidum
• Serissa foetida marginata
• Serissa crassiramea
• Serissa democritea
• Serissa foetida
• Serissa foetida var. crassiramea
• Buchozia japonica
• Serissa serissoides
• Serissa kawakamii

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Serissa japonica, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Gentianaales. Finally, it is a member of the Rubiaceae family within the genus Serissa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution spanning across several distinct regions of Asia and the Indian Ocean. In Eastern Asia, its presence is noted within the territories of Japan and Korea. Moving toward mainland Asia, the species is found throughout South-Central China as well as Southeast China. Additionally, its range extends significantly to the Western Indian Ocean, specifically in Madagascar. Together, these locations highlight the widespread natural habitat of Serissa japonica.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Serissa japonica is characterized by its classification as a chamaephyte, a life form where the plant's perennial buds are located close to the soil surface, often protected by a layer of leaf litter or substrate. This growth habit allows the species to survive seasonal environmental stressors by maintaining its regenerative capacity near the ground level. As a woody perennial, it undergoes a cyclic development involving the establishment of a persistent stem structure that supports seasonal foliage and flowering periods. The plant's life cycle progresses from seed germination to the development of a bushy, shrub-like architecture, where its physiological processes are tightly integrated with its ability to withstand varying climatic conditions through its low-lying bud positioning. This life form ensures that even if above-ground biomass is affected by external factors, the plant can re-emerge from its protected buds to continue its reproductive and vegetative stages.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Morphology

The morphology of Serissa japonica is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub, exhibiting a self-supporting structure that does not function as a climber, liana, or vine. The plant typically reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 0.45 m to a maximum of 0.6 m. It is an independent species, functioning as a non-parasitic organism, and is classified as a terrestrial plant rather than an aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic species (including holoepiphytic or hemiepiphytic forms). Its overall architecture is defined by this consistent shrubby, woody habit.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.6 m

Plant height min:

0.45 m

Woodiness :

woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Serissa japonica 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 leaf.

Leaf

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

Chemicals

Serissa japonica has 22 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Daucosterol, OLEANOLIC ACID, (+)-Pinoresinol, (-)-Olivil, (-)-syringaresinol.

Daucosterol

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

OLEANOLIC ACID

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

(+)-Pinoresinol

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

(-)-Olivil

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

(-)-syringaresinol

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

2,2-dimethyl-6-methylene-cyclohexanepropanol

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

2,6-Dimethoxy-p-benzoquinone

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

2-Methoxy-4-vinylphenol

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

3,7-Dimethyl-1,6-octadien-3-ol

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

3-Hexen-1-ol

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Conditions

Serissa japonica has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include adenoviruses, herpes simplex viruses.

Adenoviruses

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Herpes simplex viruses

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Preparations

Serissa japonica has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include steam distillation.

Steam distillation

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica