Swertia macrosperma

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ophelia macrosperma
• Swertia randaiensis

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Gentianales and the family Gentianaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Swertia, specifically as the species Swertia macrosperma.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical range across several distinct regions of Asia. In China, its distribution spans from the South-Central provinces to the Southeast. It is also found inhabiting the high-altitude areas of Tibet. Beyond the mainland, the species is documented in Eastern Asia, specifically within Taiwan. Finally, its presence extends to the Indian Subcontinent, where it grows in the Assam region.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Swertia macrosperma is characterized by its preference for high-altitude environments, where it occupies a specific vertical niche within montane ecosystems. The species is distributed across a broad altitudinal gradient, typically found at elevations ranging from a minimum of 1400 m AMSL to a maximum of 3950 m AMSL. Its ecological presence is most concentrated around a mean elevation of 2675 m AMSL, suggesting that its optimal growth conditions, including temperature regimes and moisture availability, are most favorable within this mid-to-high montane belt. This wide elevational span indicates an ability to adapt to varying atmospheric pressures and climatic shifts found in rugged, mountainous terrains.

Elevational range max:

3950 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2675 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1400 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Swertia macrosperma is characterized by a variable lifecycle that can manifest as an annual, biennial, or perennial, depending heavily on environmental conditions and resource availability. During its development, the plant typically begins its life cycle from seeds that germinate under specific moisture and temperature regimes found in its native montane habitats. As it progresses, the plant focuses on vegetative growth, often developing a robust structure capable of supporting its reproductive phase. The transition to the reproductive stage involves the emergence of inflorescences, which are essential for seed production and the continuation of the species. Because its lifecycle is variable, the plant may complete its entire reproductive process within a single growing season as an annual, or it may persist through multiple years, accumulating biomass and nutrients to ensure successful flowering and seed dispersal across different seasonal cycles.

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

Morphologically, Swertia macrosperma is characterized as a non-woody herb that grows in a terrestrial habit. As a self-supporting plant, it does not exhibit climbing behavior and maintains a growth form typical of herbaceous species. The plant height varies depending on environmental conditions, with individual specimens ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 1 m, while the average plant height is approximately 0.65 m.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.65 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiological characteristics of the foliage in Swertia macrosperma exhibit significant morphological variability, particularly regarding the dimensions of its leaves. The leaf length is characterized by a wide range of development, starting from a minimum of 0.4 cm and reaching a maximum of 4.5 cm, with a recorded mean length of 2.45 cm. Complementing these longitudinal variations is the leaf width, which fluctuates between a minimum of 0.3 cm and a maximum of 1.5 cm. This dimensional variance suggests a dynamic growth pattern in the plant's photosynthetic structures, where individual leaf size is subject to specific developmental fluctuations within these established parameters.

Leaf length max:

4.5 cm

Leaf length mean:

2.45 cm

Leaf length min:

0.4 cm

Leaf width max:

1.5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.3 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Swertia macrosperma is characterized by specific morphological dimensions in its floral and fruiting structures. The flowering stage involves blossoms that exhibit a varied size range, with flower lengths measuring a minimum of 0.4 cm and reaching a maximum of 0.8 cm. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruits that follow a closely defined size distribution; these fruits typically have a minimum length of 0.5 cm, a maximum length of 0.6 cm, and maintain a mean length of approximately 0.55 cm.

Flower length max:

0.8 cm

Flower length min:

0.4 cm

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

Swertia macrosperma has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Glycosides, Iridoids.

Glycosides

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Iridoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Swertia macrosperma has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antipyretic.

Antidiabetic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antipyretic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Swertia macrosperma has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include antipyretic, hyperlipidemia.

Antipyretic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hyperlipidemia

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Swertia macrosperma has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanol extract (EE), n-butanol extract (BE).

Ethanol extract (ee)

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

N-butanol extract (be)

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology