Stephania venosa

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Clypea venosa
• Stephania prapatensis

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 ordered under Ranunculales and placed in the family Menispermaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Stephania, specifically as the species Stephania venosa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical presence across several distinct regions of Asia. Within the Indian Subcontinent, its distribution is specifically noted in Bangladesh. It also spreads into the Indo-China region, where it can be found inhabiting the Andaman Islands. Furthermore, the species is widely distributed throughout mainland Southeast Asia, including Cambodia and Laos. Finally, its range extends into Myanmar, completing its presence across these diverse territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Stephania venosa is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. As a perennial, it does not complete its life cycle within a single year or two but instead undergoes continuous cycles of growth, development, and reproduction over an extended period. This longevity enables the plant to establish a stable presence within its ecological niche, often relying on a robust tuberous root system to store nutrients and survive periods of dormancy or unfavorable environmental conditions. Through this sustained lifecycle, the species can focus on long-term survival and gradual expansion within its habitat.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Stephania venosa is characterized by its growth habit as an obligatory climber, functioning specifically as a vine or liana to navigate its environment. This plant exhibits a non-woody structure and demonstrates significant vertical reach, with an average plant height of approximately 14 m and a maximum height that can extend up to 20 m.

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Plant height max:

20 m

Plant height mean:

14 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Stephania venosa is characterized by its metabolic processes as a woody climber, focusing on efficient nutrient acquisition and specialized secondary metabolite production. In terms of its nutrient cycling capabilities, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer; it lacks the symbiotic relationship with diazotrophic bacteria, such as Rhizobium, required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, meaning it relies entirely on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system. Its physiological energy production is driven by photosynthesis within its foliage, which fuels the development of its complex tuberous structures. These tubers serve as primary physiological storage organs, sequestering starch and various bioactive alkaloids that are synthesized through intricate biosynthetic pathways. The regulation of its growth and survival is closely tied to its ability to manage water uptake and mineral transport via its climbing vines to maintain cellular turgor and metabolic activity.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

Reproduction in Stephania venosa is characterized by a complex biological process that relies on specific floral mechanisms to ensure genetic diversity. Regarding its reproductive strategy, self-fertilization is absent, meaning the plant does not undergo autogamy to produce seeds. Instead, the species utilizes cross-pollination as its primary mode of sexual reproduction, necessitating the transfer of pollen between different individual plants to facilitate fertilization. This lack of self-fertilization suggests a reliance on external agents, such as insects, to mediate the movement of pollen, thereby promoting outcrossing and enhancing the genetic variability of the offspring.

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Stephania venosa has 12 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include berberine, Corydalmine, Crebanine, Cyclanoline, Dehydrocrebanine.

berberine

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
2. Natural product communications

Corydalmine

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Crebanine

1. Natural product communications

Cyclanoline

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Dehydrocrebanine

1. Planta medica

Dehydrostephanine

1. Planta medica

Dicentrine

1. Natural product communications

Jatrorrhizine

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Palmatine

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

stepharanine

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Activities

Stephania venosa has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Aphrodisiac.

Aphrodisiac

1. Natural product communications

Conditions

Stephania venosa has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Alzheimer disease, Alzheimer's disease, cancer.

Alzheimer disease

1. Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet thangphaet

Alzheimer's disease

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Cancer

1. Natural product communications

Preparations

Stephania venosa has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include tuber.

Tuber

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology