A flowering Climber.

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• ivyweed
• tapevine
• snake vine

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cocculus japonicus

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 Ranunculales. Ultimately, it is a member of the family Menispermaceae within the genus Stephania.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated within the regions of East Asia. In China, its presence is noted across the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan areas. Moving further east, the species can also be found throughout the islands of Japan. Additionally, its range extends into the Korean peninsula. Together, these locations define the natural habitat of Stephanica japonica.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Stephania japonica is characterized by its ability to thrive across a diverse altitudinal gradient, ranging from lowlands at 20 m AMSL to higher elevations reaching a maximum of 2000 m AMSL. This plant demonstrates significant ecological plasticity, occupying distinct environmental niches that include the humid, shaded environments of rain forests as well as the saline-influenced conditions of halophytic vegetation. This broad distribution across varying moisture levels and salt tolerances allows it to persist in both stable forest ecosystems and more specialized coastal or saline habitats.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

20 m AMSL

Habitat :

rain forest, halophytic vegetation

Life history

The life history of Stephanotis japonica is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth strategy and ecological positioning, the species is categorized as a phanerophyte, specifically functioning as a phanerophyte and a nanophanerophyte, meaning its perennating buds are elevated above the ground level on stems or branches.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Stephania japonica is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, functioning as an obligatory climber in the form of a vine. It exhibits an independent lifestyle, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte, as it maintains a terrestrial existence. The plant typically attains a height ranging from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of 10 meters, utilizing its climbing habit to ascend through its environment.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

10 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Stephanania japonica is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency under typical environmental conditions. The plant's vegetative structure includes leaves that exhibit significant morphological variation in size, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 12 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 4 cm and a maximum of 12 cm, reflecting a broad range of surface area available for light interception and gas exchange. Furthermore, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, thus relying on the uptake of available nitrogen from the surrounding soil medium.

Leaf length max:

12 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf width max:

12 cm

Leaf width min:

4 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Stephanis japonica is characterized by a dioecious sexual reproduction system, meaning individual plants are either male or female. The flowering stage features white flowers arranged in inflorescences that vary in length from a minimum of 0.04 m to a maximum of 0.09 m. Following pollination, the plant develops fleshy, indehiscent drupes. These fruits exhibit specific dimensional ranges, with a mean length of 0.725 cm (ranging from 0.4 cm to 0.8 cm) and a width ranging from 0.4 cm to a maximum of 0.6 cm. The seeds contained within these fruits are relatively small, possessing a mean mass of 0.0197205 g, with individual seed masses fluctuating between a minimum of 0.014042 g and a maximum of 0.02632 g. Furthermore, the seed volume is consistent, recorded at a mean, minimum, and maximum of 73 mm³.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Flower colour :

white

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

0.8 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.725 cm

Fruit length min:

0.4 cm

Fruit type :

drupe

Fruit width max:

0.6 cm

Fruit width min:

0.4 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.09 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.04 m

Reproduction sexual :

dioecious

Seed mass max:

0.02632 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0197205 g

Seed mass min:

0.014042 g

Seed volume max:

73 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Stephania japonica has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Stephania japonica has 32 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ISOTRILOBINE, Aknadicine, Aknadinine, Cyclanoline, Cycleanine.

ISOTRILOBINE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of natural products

Aknadicine

1. Dr. Duke

Aknadinine

1. Dr. Duke

Cyclanoline

1. Dr. Duke

Cycleanine

1. Dr. Duke

D-Tetrandrine

1. Dr. Duke

EPISTEPHANINE

1. Dr. Duke

Epistephamiersine

1. Dr. Duke

HYPOEPISTEPHANINE

1. Dr. Duke

Hasubanonine

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Stephania japonica has 24 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antiaggregant, Antialopecic, Antiarthritic, Anticarcinomic.

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiaggregant

1. Dr. Duke

Antialopecic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiarthritic

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antidandruff

1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Antileishmanic

1. Dr. Duke

Antimalarial

1. Dr. Duke

Antiplasmodial

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Stephania japonica has 14 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include bone fracture, cancer, chronic pain, convulsion, epilepsy.

Bone fracture

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cancer

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chronic pain

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Convulsion

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Epilepsy

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fever

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Headache

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Inflammation

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Mental disorders

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Pain

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Stephania japonica has 1 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include An alkaloidal extract.

An alkaloidal extract

1. Journal of natural products