sapphire-berry

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Asiatic sweetleaf

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lodhra crataegoides
• Palura paniculata
• Symplocos crataegoides var. chinensis
• Symplocos crataegoides var. pallida
• Eugenioides pallidum
• Symplocos chinensis
• Eugenioides paniculatum
• Symplocos crataegoides
• Eugenioides sinicum
• Symplocos hunanensis
• Crataegus biloba
• Eugenioides crataegoides
• Symplocos paniculata f. biloba
• Symplocos simaoensis
• Palura sinica
• Symplocos sinica var. vestita
• Symplocos sinica
• Symplocos chinensis var. vestita
• Symplocos crataegoides var. glabra
• Palura chinensis
• Symplocos paniculata var. glabra
• Palura odorata
• Palura paniculata var. pallida
• Symplocos crataegoides var. glabrifolia
• Prunus paniculata
• Palura paniculata var. glabra
• Prunus mairei
• Symplocos paniculata var. parvifolia
• Symplocos paniculata var. glabrifolia
• Myrtus chinensis

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Ericales. Finally, it is a member of the family Symplocaceae, falling under the genus Symplocos.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical presence across several distinct regions of China. It can be found growing in the South-Central parts of the country, as well as on the island of Hainan. Moving toward the northern territories, its range extends into Inner Mongolia. The distribution also reaches into the Manchuria region. Finally, the species is documented to inhabit the North-Central areas of China.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Symplocos paniculata is characterized by its ability to inhabit diverse altitudinal gradients within its native montane habitats. This species demonstrates a broad vertical distribution, ranging from lower montane elevations as low as 760 m AMSL to high-altitude environments reaching a maximum of 2900 m AMSL. Throughout its ecological range, it maintains an average elevation of approximately 1630 m AMSL, indicating a preference for mid-elevation forest ecosystems where it can thrive within specific climatic and topographic niches.

Elevational range max:

2900 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1630 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

760 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Symplocos paniculata is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, ensuring its presence in the ecosystem over multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its conducting shoots well above the ground level, often exhibiting a structural growth habit classified as a nanophanerophyte. Its physiological cycle is marked by a deciduous nature, meaning it undergoes a seasonal shedding of its foliage.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Symplocos paniculata is characterized by a woody growth form that can manifest as either a tree or a shrub, depending on environmental conditions and developmental stage. As a terrestrial organism, it does not exhibit aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies, nor does it function as an epiphyte or a parasite, maintaining an independent biological existence. The plant is self-supporting in its structure, lacking the climbing or liana-like habits of vines, and relies on its robust, woody stems to provide structural integrity.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Symplocos paniculata is characterized by the development of fleshy fruits that play a critical role in its life cycle. These fruits exhibit a varying length, with a mean measurement of 0.65 cm, ranging from a minimum of 0.5 cm to a maximum of 0.8 cm. Within these fleshy structures, the seeds serve as the primary reproductive units, displaying a consistent seed volume of 29 mm³, as both the minimum and maximum recorded values converge at this measurement. The mass of the seeds also shows notable variation, with a mean mass of approximately 0.0300425 g, falling within a range from a minimum of 0.017 g to a maximum of 0.04537 g.

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

0.8 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.65 cm

Fruit length min:

0.5 cm

Seed mass max:

0.04537 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0300425 g

Seed mass min:

0.017 g

Seed volume max:

29 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Symplocos paniculata has 1 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 root.

Root

1. Journal of natural products
2. Journal of Asian natural products research

Chemicals

Symplocos paniculata has 16 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include SYMPLOCOSOSIDE A, SYMPLOCOSOSIDE L, SYMPLOCOSOSIDE M, SYMPLOCOSOSIDE N, SYMPLOCOSOSIDE O.

SYMPLOCOSOSIDE A

1. Journal of natural products

SYMPLOCOSOSIDE L

1. Journal of natural products

SYMPLOCOSOSIDE M

1. Journal of natural products

SYMPLOCOSOSIDE N

1. Journal of natural products

SYMPLOCOSOSIDE O

1. Journal of natural products

SYMPLOCOSOSIDE P

1. Journal of natural products

SYMPLOCOSOSIDE Q

1. Journal of natural products

SYMPLOCOSOSIDE R

1. Journal of natural products

Symplocososide B

1. Journal of natural products

Symplocososide S

1. Journal of natural products

Activities

Symplocos paniculata has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antitumor, Cytotoxic.

Antitumor

1. Journal of Asian natural products research

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of natural products

Preparations