Long Stephania

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Long Stephania

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Stephania hispidula
• Stephania japonica var. australis
• Stephania japonica var. hispidula

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 organized under the order Ranunculales and the family Menispermaceae. Its specific taxonomic identification is placed within the genus Stephania, specifically as the species Stephania longa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across various regions within East Asia. In China, its presence is noted in the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan areas. Its range extends further to the island of Taiwan within the same general region. Additionally, the species can be found throughout the Nansei-shoto islands of Eastern Asia. These diverse locations highlight the specific geographical footprint of Stephanania longa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Stephania longa is characterized by its perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. Structurally, it is classified as a phanerophyte, specifically categorized under both phanerophyte and nanophanerophyte life forms, which indicates that its regenerative buds are located on aerial parts of the plant, often elevated above the ground level.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Stephania longa is characterized by its growth habit as an obligatory climber, necessitating external support to ascend. The plant typically reaches a substantial height, with a mean stature of approximately 3 m. In terms of its structural composition, the specimen exhibits a non-woody texture, lacking the rigid, lignified stems found in woody species.

Climber :

obligatory

Plant height mean:

3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Stephania longa is characterized by its specialized metabolic processes as a perennial woody climber, focusing on efficient nutrient acquisition and resource allocation to support its climbing habit. A key aspect of its physiological profile is its relationship with soil nutrients; specifically, regarding its ability to engage in symbiotic nitrogen fixation, this plant is not a nitrogen fixer. Unlike leguminous species that possess specialized root nodules to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, Stephania longa relies entirely on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium present in the soil through its root system. Its metabolic activity is centered on the synthesis of complex secondary metabolites, particularly isoquinoline alkaloids, which are produced through intricate biochemical pathways within its tissues. These physiological processes are closely regulated by environmental factors such as light intensity and moisture availability, which dictate the rate of photosynthesis and the subsequent translocation of carbohydrates through its vascular system to support both vegetative growth and the development of its characteristic tuberous structures.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Stephania longa involves the development of specialized fruit structures that play a critical role in its life cycle. The morphology of these fruits is characterized by specific dimensional variations, where the fruit length typically ranges from a minimum of 0.5 cm to a maximum of 0.6 cm. Across observed specimens, the fruit length maintains a mean value of 0.55 cm, reflecting a consistent size distribution during the reproductive phase. These small, precise dimensions are essential characteristics of the fruit development process in this species.

Fruit length max:

0.6 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.55 cm

Fruit length min:

0.5 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Stephania longa has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CEPHARANTHINE, Isolonganone, Isoprostephabyssine, Isostephaboline, Norprostephabyssine.

CEPHARANTHINE

1. Frontiers in plant science

Isolonganone

1. Journal of natural products

Isoprostephabyssine

1. Journal of natural products

Isostephaboline

1. Journal of natural products

Norprostephabyssine

1. Journal of natural products

Conditions

Stephania longa has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include SARS-CoV-2.

Sars-cov-2

1. Frontiers in plant science

Preparations

Stephania longa has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts, whole plants.

Extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Whole plants

1. Journal of natural products