Styrax obassia

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several key regions of East Asia. Within China, it is commonly found in Manchuria and the North-Central regions. Additionally, its presence extends into the Southeast portion of the country. Moving beyond mainland China, the species is also widely distributed throughout the Korean Peninsula. Finally, its geographical range includes the islands of Japan.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Styrax obassia is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, ensuring its presence in the ecosystem across multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive buds are elevated well above the ground on woody stems, a structural adaptation that defines its growth habit. The species exhibits a deciduous pattern, shedding its foliage annually in response to seasonal changes. Its classification as a phanerophyte is consistent across its morphological descriptions, reinforcing its status as a woody plant that maintains its life cycle through long-term vegetative persistence.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Styrax obassia is characterized by its growth form as a tree, which is a perennial woody plant. It functions as a terrestrial species, growing directly in soil rather than as an epiphyte. The plant exhibits a distinctly woody structure, forming a substantial and durable framework typical of its arboreal life habit.

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Styrax obassia is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency within its native environment. The plant's vegetative structure features elliptic leaf forms that facilitate efficient light interception for photosynthesis. These leaves are characterized by finely toothed margins, a morphological trait that influences gas exchange and transpiration rates at the leaf surface. Furthermore, the plant lacks specialized defensive epidermal structures, as it possesses no leaf thorns and no leaf spines, relying instead on other physiological or chemical mechanisms for protection.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf margin :

finely toothed

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Styrax obassia is centered around the production and dispersal of its seeds, which exhibit notable variation in individual weight. The seed mass within a population is characterized by a mean value of 0.232945 g, indicating a typical size for its reproductive output. However, there is significant morphological diversity among the seeds, with the minimum recorded seed mass being as low as 0.0752 g and the maximum recorded mass reaching up to 0.414 g. This range in seed mass suggests a variability in nutrient reserves available to the developing embryo, which can influence the initial establishment and vigor of the offspring in its natural habitat.

Seed mass max:

0.414 g

Seed mass mean:

0.232945 g

Seed mass min:

0.0752 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Styrax obassia has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed.

Seed

1. Phytochemistry

Preparations

Styrax obassia has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include seeds.

Seeds

1. Phytochemistry