Common Euscaphis

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Common Euscaphis

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Triceros japonica
• Euscaphis japonica
• Euscaphis japonica f. lanata
• Hebokia japonica
• Staphylea japonica f. eburnea
• Euscaphis japonica var. wupingensis
• Euodia chaffanjoni
• Euscaphis chinensis
• Euscaphis fukienensis
• Euscaphis konishii
• Euscaphis saponica
• Euscaphis simplicifolia
• Euscaphis tonkinensis
• Euscaphis japonica var. formosana
• Sapindus cavaleriei
• Sambucus japonica
• Euscaphis japonica var. jianningensis
• Euscaphis japonica var. lanata
• Euscaphis japonica var. pubescens
• Staphylea japonica f. lanata
• Euscaphis japonica f. eburnea

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Crossosomatales. Finally, it is a member of the family Staphyleaceae and falls under the genus Staphylea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several key regions of East Asia. Within China, it can be found growing in the South-Central and North-Central provinces. Its presence also extends to the southeastern coastal areas of China and the tropical island of Hainan. Furthermore, the species is native to the islands of Japan within Eastern Asia. Collectively, these locations define the specific natural habitat where this medicinal species thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Staphylea japonica is characterized by its nature as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a stable presence within its ecological niche. Throughout its development, the plant exhibits a deciduous growth habit, meaning it undergoes a seasonal cycle where it sheds its foliage annually, typically in response to decreasing temperatures or changing light availability. This cycle of dormancy and regrowth is a fundamental aspect of its biological rhythm, ensuring its survival across varying climatic conditions.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Staphylea japonica is characterized by a woody growth form that primarily manifests as a shrub or a small tree. This plant is a self-supporting species, exhibiting no climbing or parasitic tendencies, and it functions as an independent organism. It is strictly terrestrial in its habitat, neither aquatic nor epiphytic. In terms of stature, the plant reaches a varying height, typically ranging from a minimum of 3 m to a maximum of 6 m, with a mean height of approximately 4.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

6 m

Plant height mean:

4.5 m

Plant height min:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Staphylea japonica is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation and energy production processes. The vegetative structure is defined by its elliptic leaf form, featuring toothed margins that aid in gas exchange and transpiration regulation. The leaves exhibit specific morphological dimensions, typically maintaining a mean length of 5 cm, with a range spanning from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 6 cm. In terms of width, the leaves vary from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 3 cm, with a mean width recorded at 2.5 cm. Furthermore, the foliage is characterized by a lack of defensive physical structures, as it possesses no leaf thorns and no leaf spines.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

6 cm

Leaf length mean:

5 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf margin :

toothed

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

3 cm

Leaf width mean:

2.5 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Staphylea japonica is characterized by a specific sequence of floral and fruit development. The flowering stage produces relatively small blossoms, with individual flower lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.4 cm to a maximum of 0.5 cm. Following successful pollination, the plant develops dry fruits that vary in size, with an average fruit length of 1.5 cm, though they can range from as small as 1 cm to as large as 2 cm. Within these fruits, the seeds exhibit consistent morphological traits, maintaining a uniform seed volume of 40 mm³ (where both the minimum and maximum recorded volumes are 40 mm³). The mass of these seeds shows slight variability, with a mean seed mass of 0.04728 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.03526 g to a maximum of 0.0593 g.

Flower length max:

0.5 cm

Flower length min:

0.4 cm

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

2 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.5 cm

Fruit length min:

1 cm

Seed mass max:

0.0593 g

Seed mass mean:

0.04728 g

Seed mass min:

0.03526 g

Seed volume max:

40 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Staphylea japonica has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, leaf.

Fruit

1. PeerJ
2. Frontiers in genetics

Leaf

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Chemicals

Staphylea japonica has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ANTHOCYANIN, Biflorin, Chromones, Isobiflorin, Megastigmane.

ANTHOCYANIN

1. PeerJ
2. Frontiers in genetics

Biflorin

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Chromones

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Isobiflorin

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Megastigmane

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Tetraketide

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

triterpenoids

1. Frontiers in genetics

Preparations

Staphylea japonica has 1 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts.

Extracts

1. Journal of biosciences