Chinese Spiranthes

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Chinese Spiranthes
• ladies-tresses
• Ladies tresses
• Taiwanese Ladies'-tresses

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Neottia sinensis
• Neottia pudica
• Gyrostachys australis var. sinensis
• Spiranthes australis var. sinensis
• Spiranthes lancea var. chinensis
• Neottia australis var. chinensis
• Aristotelea spiralis
• Spiranthes pitouchaoensis
• Spiranthes suishaensis
• Spiranthes pudica
• Spiranthes spiralis var. albescens
• Spiranthes papuana
• Spiranthes neocaledonica
• Spiranthes australis var. suishaensis
• Spiranthes australis var. pudica
• Spiranthes sinensis f. autumnus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Asparagales, it is classified under the family Orchidaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is within the genus Spiranthes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several key regions of Asia and the Indian Ocean. Within China, it is found in the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan areas. Its range extends further into Eastern Asia, where it is specifically documented in Japan. Additionally, the species has a presence in the Western Indian Ocean, specifically on the island of Réunion. Together, these locations highlight the diverse habitats where Spiranthes sinensis can be discovered.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Spiranthes sineensis is characterized by its preference for meadow habitats, where it thrives within open, grassy environments. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, allowing it to occupy diverse mountainous landscapes. It is typically found at a mean elevation of 1000 m AMSL, though its ecological range is quite extensive, stretching from a minimum altitude of 300 m AMSL to a maximum elevation of 3000 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

300 m AMSL

Habitat :

meadows

Life history

The life history of Spiranthes sinensis is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a cryptophyte, it relies on specialized underground structures to survive unfavorable environmental conditions, effectively functioning as a geophyte. This plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its above-ground foliage during its dormant period before regenerating from its subterranean organs.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Spiranthes sineensis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. This terrestrial plant typically maintains a self-supporting structure, functioning independently without the need for climbing or parasitic mechanisms. In terms of stature, it is a relatively small plant with a height that varies between a minimum of 0.3 m and a maximum of 1 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 0.45 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.45 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Spiranthes sinensis is characterized by specific morphological adaptations in its foliage, which plays a critical role in its metabolic processes. The leaves are defined by a consistent width, maintaining both a mean and a maximum value of 1.5 cm, while the minimum width also remains constant at 1.5 cm, indicating a highly uniform linear structure. These leaves can reach a maximum length of up to 20 cm, providing a sufficient surface area for photosynthetic activity. Notably, the plant does not exhibit succulence, suggesting that its physiological strategy for water management and structural integrity relies on standard cellular turgor rather than specialized water-storing tissues.

Leaf length max:

20 cm

Leaf width mean:

1.5 cm

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Spiranthes sineensis involves both sexual and asexual processes, as asexual reproduction is present in this species. Its sexual reproductive cycle is characterized by a specific flowering period that typically begins in July and concludes in August. The pollination mechanism is strictly biotic, utilizing an insect pollination syndrome to facilitate fertilization. Once fertilization has occurred, the plant employs an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning that its seeds or reproductive units are dispersed by the wind to colonize new areas.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Spiranthes sinensis 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. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Spiranthes sinensis has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Phenanthrenes, ferulic acid, 3,4-Dihydroxybenzaldehyde, dihydrophenanthrenes.

Flavonoids

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Phenanthrenes

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

ferulic acid

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

3,4-Dihydroxybenzaldehyde

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

dihydrophenanthrenes

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Spiranthes sinensis has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.

Antioxidant

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Spiranthes sinensis has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include inflammation, tumor.

Inflammation

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Tumor

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)