Staphylea japonica
Staphylea japonica, commonly known as the Japanese bladdernut, is a deciduous shrub valued for its ornamental beauty and traditional medicinal properties. Native to East Asia, its distinctive inflated seed capsules are iconic. Historically, various parts of the plant have been utilized in folk medicine for their unique therapeutic potential.
- Scientific name: Staphylea japonica
- Family: Staphyleaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
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.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Crossosomatales | WCVP |
| Family | Staphyleaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Staphylea | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Staphylea japonica, is identified by several common names in Chinese, including 野鸦椿 (zh), 野鸦椿 (zh-hans), and 野鸦椿 (zh-cn).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 野鸦椿 | Wikidata |
| zh-hans | 野鸦椿 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 野鸦椿 | Wikidata |
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.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
| China | China North-Central | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Japan | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Korea | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Nansei-shoto | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Taiwan | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Vietnam | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Staphylea japonica, is characterized by several distinct botanical features that define its morphology. Its lush green leaves are arranged to provide a dense canopy, playing a vital role in the plant's photosynthetic processes. As the growing season progresses, the plant produces its characteristic fruit, which develops into prominent, drooping clusters. These red fruits stand out vividly against the foliage, serving as a key identifying feature of the species during its fruiting stage.- Total parts
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| red fruits | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| fruit | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |