Stephania succifera
Stephania succifera · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Sparse (2 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆
Stephania succifera, is a climbing shrub renowned in traditional medicine for its diverse therapeutic properties. Primarily found in tropical regions, this plant is valued for its bioactive compounds, which offer potential anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant benefits. It remains a subject of significant pharmacological interest for developing natural remedies.
- Family
- Not available
- Native range
- Asia-Temperate
- Parts used
- Leaf · Root
- Common names
- Not available
- Scientific synonyms
- Not available
Names and Synonyms
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Stephania succiferaDistribution
This plant exhibits a very specific and localized geographical distribution. According to botanical records, its presence is documented within the borders of China. More precisely, it is found inhabiting the tropical environment of Hainan. Because it is limited to this particular region, its natural range appears quite restricted. Consequently, the species remains a unique component of the local flora in that specific island province.
| Region | Area |
|---|---|
| China | Hainan |
Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)
Botanical Identification
Life history
The life history of Stephania succifera is characterized by a growth pattern that exhibits variable deciduousness, as the plant can transition between being deciduous, evergreen, or showing a variable state depending on environmental conditions and seasonal changes. As a perennial climber, its life cycle involves navigating complex ecological niches where its foliage density fluctuates; in certain stages or climates, it may shed its leaves entirely, while in others, it maintains a consistent green canopy. This flexibility in deciduousness allows the plant to adapt its metabolic activities to moisture availability and light intensity, ensuring its survival through varying seasonal cycles.
- Deciduousness :
- deciduous
Reproduction
The reproduction of Stephania succifera culminates in the development of small, distinct fruits that serve as the primary vessel for seed dispersal. Morphological analysis of these fruits reveals a high degree of uniformity in their physical dimensions. The fruits maintain a consistent length, with both the minimum, mean, and maximum measurements recorded at exactly 0.6 cm. Similarly, the width of the fruit exhibits no variance, with the minimum, mean, and maximum values all measured at 0.5 cm. This structural consistency suggests a highly stabilized reproductive output, where each fruit presents a standardized profile of 0.6 cm in length and 0.5 cm in width.
- Fruit length max:
- 0.6 cm
- Fruit width max:
- 0.5 cm
Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)
Plant Parts
Stephania succifera has 2 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, root.
| Plant part | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Leaf | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Root | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Leaf
- Phytochemical analysis : PCA
Root
- Phytochemical analysis : PCA