Staphylea ternata

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Turpinia ternata

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Following the subclass Magnoliidae and order Crossosomatales, it is placed in the family Staphyleaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Staphylea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across specific regions within Eastern Asia. Its natural habitat includes the islands of Japan, where it can be found growing in various environments. Additionally, the species is documented to inhabit the Nansei-shotō archipelago. The geographical range also extends southward to include the island of Taiwan. Consequently, these three distinct areas define the known ecological presence of Staphylea ternata.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Staphylea ternata is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish long-term presence within its ecosystem. Throughout its developmental stages, the plant maintains an evergreen habit, retaining its foliage continuously rather than shedding it seasonally. This combination of a perennial lifecycle and evergreen foliage dictates its physiological rhythm, enabling sustained metabolic activity and consistent vegetative coverage over time.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Staphylea ternata is characterized by a woody growth form, functioning as a self-supporting tree that reaches a mean plant height of approximately 10 meters. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic or epiphytic tendencies, maintaining an independent lifestyle without parasitic requirements. Its structural development is defined by a robust, woody composition, allowing it to maintain a stable, upright stature without the need for climbing mechanisms.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Staphylea ternata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency within its ecological niche. The plant's vegetative development is closely tied to its leaf morphology, where the foliage exhibits significant dimensional variability. The leaves possess a minimum length of 5 cm and a mean length of 11 cm, reaching a maximum potential length of 17 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 2.8 cm and a maximum of 6 cm, reflecting the structural adaptations of the canopy to optimize light interception and gas exchange.

Leaf length max:

17 cm

Leaf length mean:

11 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

6 cm

Leaf width min:

2.8 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Staphylea ternata is characterized by the development of distinct inflorescences that serve as the primary site for flowering. These inflorescences exhibit a measurable variation in size, ranging from a minimum length of 0.2 m to a maximum length of 0.3 m. Following successful pollination, the plant produces fruits that demonstrate high morphological consistency in size. The fruit length is uniform across the population, with a minimum, mean, and maximum measurement all recorded at 1 cm, ensuring a standardized fruit dimension during the reproductive cycle.

Fruit length max:

1 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.3 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.2 m

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Staphylea ternata has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Corchoionoside C, Icariside B4, Megastigmane, Turpinionoside A, Turpinionoside B.

Corchoionoside C

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Icariside B4

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Megastigmane

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Turpinionoside A

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Turpinionoside B

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Turpinionoside C

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Turpinionoside D

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Turpinionoside E

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin