stemona

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• stemona

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is placed in the order Pandanales and the family Stemonaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Stemona, specifically the species Stemona tuberosa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical range across several key regions in Asia. Within China, its distribution spans from the South-Central provinces to the Southeast regions. It is also found growing in the tropical environment of Hainan. Moving eastward, the species is documented across Taiwan in Eastern Asia. Additionally, its presence extends to the Indian Subcontinent, specifically within the Assam region.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Stemona tuberosa is characterized by its distribution across a broad altitudinal gradient within its native habitats. This species thrives across a significant vertical range, occupying diverse ecological niches from lower-altitude environments up to montane regions. Specifically, its elevational range begins at a minimum of 370 m AMSL and extends to a maximum of 2240 m AMSL. Based on these parameters, the species maintains a mean elevation of approximately 1305 m AMSL, indicating a preference for mid-to-high altitude ecosystems where specific climatic and soil conditions are met.

Elevational range max:

2240 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1305 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

370 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Stemona tuberosa is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a plant that survives unfavorable conditions through underground storage organs, its life form is classified as a geophyte, specifically functioning as a cryptophyte. This survival strategy involves protecting its vital growing points beneath the soil surface, enabling the plant to re-emerge and continue its life cycle once environmental conditions become favorable.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Stemona tuberosa is characterized by its growth form as a herb, specifically functioning as a self-supporting climber. The plant reaches an average height of approximately 4 m and is classified as a non-woody species. It grows as an independent organism rather than a parasite and maintains a terrestrial life habit, established within the soil rather than as an epiphyte.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

4 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Stemona tuberosa is characterized by specific morphological dimensions of its foliage and its distinct metabolic relationship with soil nutrients. The leaves exhibit a significant range of variability in size, with a mean leaf length of 15 cm, though they can reach a maximum length of up to 24 cm, while the minimum recorded length is 6 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width varies from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 17 cm, maintaining a mean width of approximately 11 cm. Regarding its nutrient acquisition processes, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic mechanisms required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form, relying instead on the uptake of nitrogen available within the soil substrate.

Leaf length max:

24 cm

Leaf length mean:

15 cm

Leaf length min:

6 cm

Leaf width max:

17 cm

Leaf width mean:

11 cm

Leaf width min:

5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Stemona tuberosa is primarily driven by biotic mechanisms, characterized by a complex interaction with various biological agents. The pollination process follows a biotic pollination syndrome, relying on living organisms rather than abiotic factors to facilitate the transfer of pollen. Specifically, the plant utilizes an insect-based pollination strategy, where various insect species serve as the primary vectors for genetic exchange. Within this framework, there is evidence of specialized interactions involving flies, indicating that the plant's floral characteristics are adapted to attract these specific dipteran pollinators to ensure successful fertilization and subsequent seed production.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

fly

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Stemona tuberosa has 2 reported plant parts identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, flower.

Root

1. Journal of natural medicines
2. Planta medica
3. Fitoterapia
4. Journal of natural products
5. Phytochemistry

Flower

1. Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)

Chemicals

Stemona tuberosa has 23 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Tuberostemonine, stemoninine, neotuberostemonine, 1,9a-seco-Stemoenonine, 3,5-dihydroxy-4-methylbibenzyl.

Tuberostemonine

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC
2. Planta medica
3. Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)

stemoninine

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC
2. Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)
3. Journal of natural products

neotuberostemonine

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC
2. Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)

1,9a-seco-Stemoenonine

1. Journal of natural products

3,5-dihydroxy-4-methylbibenzyl

1. Phytochemistry

3-hydroxy-2',5-dimethoxy-2-methylbibenzyl

1. Phytochemistry

9a-O-methylstemoenonine

1. Journal of natural products

Bisdehydrostemoninine

1. Journal of natural products

Croomine

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

Maistemonine

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

Activities

Stemona tuberosa has 4 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antitussive, Antioxidant, Antitumor, Neuroprotective.

Antitussive

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC
2. Journal of separation science
3. Journal of natural medicines
4. Planta medica
5. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Antioxidant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antitumor

1. Journal of medicinal plant research

Neuroprotective

1. Journal of natural products

Medicinal Uses

Stemona tuberosa has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antitussive, cough, inflammation, respiratory diseases.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations