Chinese Stellera

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Chinese Stellera

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Wikstroemia chamaejasme
• Wikstroemia rosea
• Chamaejasme stelleriana
• Daphne meisneriana
• Stellera chamaejasme subsp. angustifolia
• Stellera concinna
• Stellera rosea
• Stellera bodinieri
• Wikstroemia hypericifolia
• Wikstroemia salicifolia
• Xaiasme bicolor
• Wikstroemia chinensis
• Passerina stelleri
• Passerina chamaejasme
• Stellera chamaejasme f. chrysantha
• Stellera hypericifolia
• Stellera himalayensis

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Following the subclass Magnoliidae and order Malvales, it is classified under the family Thymelaeaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Stellera.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several key regions in Northern and Central Asia. In the vast expanse of Siberia, it can be found specifically within the territories of Buryatiya and Chita. Its range extends further east into the Russian Far East, where it inhabits the Amur region. Within China, the species is established in the South-Central provinces. Additionally, the plant is documented as growing throughout the Inner Mongolia region of China.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Stellera chamaejasme is characterized by its presence in diverse high-altitude environments, including forest edges, meadows, mountains, and steppe landscapes. This species is specifically adapted to montane and alpine conditions, occupying a significant elevational range that spans from a minimum of 2,600 m AMSL to a maximum of 4,200 m AMSL. With a mean elevation of approximately 3,400 m AMSL, the plant thrives in the specialized niches found within these high-altitude ecosystems, where it must withstand the unique climatic pressures of open meadows and rugged mountain terrain.

Elevational range max:

4200 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

3400 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

2600 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest edges, meadows, mountains, steppe

Life history

The life history of Stellera chamaejasme is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. As a perennial, the plant establishes a long-term presence, often developing robust root systems that support its survival through varying seasonal cycles. This life cycle enables it to undergo repeated phases of vegetative growth and reproductive development, contributing to its stability within its ecological niche. Unlike annuals that complete their cycle in a single year or biennials that follow a two-year pattern, this plant's perennial nature ensures a continuous, multi-year existence, allowing for sustained population density and long-term adaptation to its habitat.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Stellera chamaejasme is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. It functions as a self-supporting plant, neither requiring external support as a climber nor acting as a parasite, as it is an independent organism. In terms of its habitat and life strategy, the plant is terrestrial rather than aquatic or epiphytic. Its physical stature is relatively small, with a plant height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 0.5 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 0.35 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.35 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Stellera chamaejasme is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes and energy production. The vegetative development of the plant is closely linked to its leaf morphology, where leaf dimensions exhibit significant variability. The leaves typically maintain a mean length of 2 cm, though they can range from a minimum of 1.2 cm to a maximum of 2.8 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 0.3 cm and a maximum of 1 cm, reflecting the specific morphological adaptations utilized during its growth cycles.

Leaf length max:

2.8 cm

Leaf length mean:

2 cm

Leaf length min:

1.2 cm

Leaf width max:

1 cm

Leaf width min:

0.3 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Stellaria chamaejasme is characterized by sexual processes involving bisexual flowers, which facilitate pollination and subsequent seed development. The flowering period for this species typically begins in May and continues through August, though the timing can be variable depending on environmental conditions. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces fruits that are highly consistent in size; the fruit length maintains a uniform measurement of 0.5 cm, with the minimum, mean, and maximum lengths all recorded at this specific value.

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit length max:

0.5 cm

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Stellera chamaejasme has 1 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 root.

Root

1. Bioorganic chemistry
2. Organic letters
3. British journal of pharmacology

Chemicals

Stellera chamaejasme has 17 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (+)-Kusunokinin, (+)-Matairesinol, (-)-Eudesmin, (-)-Pinoresinol monomethyl ether, (-)-pinoresinol.

(+)-Kusunokinin

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

(+)-Matairesinol

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

(-)-Eudesmin

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

(-)-Pinoresinol monomethyl ether

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

(-)-pinoresinol

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Compound 14

1. Bioorganic chemistry

Compound 3

1. Bioorganic chemistry

Isohinokinin

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Lirioresinol b

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Luteolin 7-O-glucoside

1. Planta medica

Activities

Stellera chamaejasme has 5 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidermatitic, Antifungal, Antipruritic, Antipsoriatic, Antitumor.

Antidermatitic

1. Planta medica

Antifungal

1. Bioorganic chemistry

Antipruritic

1. Planta medica

Antipsoriatic

1. International immunopharmacology

Antitumor

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

Conditions

Stellera chamaejasme has 6 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, skin ulcers, HIV, Phytophthora infestans.

Psoriasis

1. Planta medica
2. International immunopharmacology
3. British journal of pharmacology

Atopic dermatitis

1. Planta medica
2. International immunopharmacology

Skin ulcers

1. Planta medica
2. International immunopharmacology

Hiv

1. Current HIV research

Phytophthora infestans

1. Bioorganic chemistry

Pulmonary fibrosis

1. Organic letters

Preparations

Stellera chamaejasme has 2 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include cell cultures, roots.

Cell cultures

1. Planta medica

Roots

1. Bioorganic chemistry