Tacca plantaginea

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Schizocapsa plantaginea
• Schizocapsa guangxiensis

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Dioscoreales, falling into the family Dioscoreaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Tacca.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several key regions in Asia. In China, its presence is noted in the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan areas. Moving toward the Indian Subcontinent, it can be found growing in Bangladesh. Additionally, the species extends into the Indo-China region, specifically within Laos. These diverse locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in various subtropical environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Tacca plantaginea is characterized by its specific distribution across varying altitudinal gradients within its natural habitat. This species typically thrives in environments found at a minimum elevation of 200 m AMSL, extending up to a maximum elevation of 600 m AMSL. Throughout its natural range, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 400 m AMSL, suggesting a preference for mid-range lowland or sub-montane ecological zones. These altitudinal constraints play a crucial role in defining the specific microclimates, moisture levels, and soil compositions that support its growth and medicinal potency.

Elevational range max:

600 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

400 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

200 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Tacca plantaginea is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, ensuring its persistence across multiple growing seasons through continuous vegetative and reproductive cycles. As a geophyte, the plant relies on underground storage organs, such as rhizomes, to survive dormant periods and provide the necessary energy reserves for seasonal regrowth. This specialized life form allows the species to endure fluctuations in environmental conditions by protecting its vital structures beneath the soil surface, facilitating a stable and long-term presence within its ecological niche.

Life form :

geophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Tacca plantaginea is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. As a terrestrial plant, it grows independently of other organisms, functioning as a non-parasitic species. This herb is self-supporting rather than a climber and maintains a relatively low stature, with a plant height ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 0.3 m, resulting in a mean height of approximately 0.25 m.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.3 m

Plant height mean:

0.25 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of the foliage in Tacca plantaginea is characterized by distinct morphological variations in leaf dimensions that support its metabolic processes. The leaves exhibit a significant range in longitudinal growth, with a mean leaf length of 13.5 cm, though individual specimens may vary from a minimum of 10 cm to a maximum length of 16 cm. This longitudinal development is complemented by a corresponding lateral expansion, where the leaf width maintains a mean of 4.25 cm. The breadth of the foliage is subject to notable fluctuations, ranging from a minimum width of 3 cm to a maximum width of 6 cm. These dimensional parameters define the surface area available for light interception and gas exchange, which are critical to the plant's physiological efficiency.

Leaf length max:

16 cm

Leaf length mean:

13.5 cm

Leaf length min:

10 cm

Leaf width max:

6 cm

Leaf width mean:

4.25 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Tacca plantaginea involves the development of specialized fruit structures that vary in size to ensure successful propagation. The fruit length is characterized by a specific range, with the smallest observed fruits measuring approximately 0.6 cm. On average, the fruits maintain a length of 0.775 cm, though they can reach a maximum length of up to 1 cm. This variability in fruit dimensions plays a key role in the plant's reproductive cycle and the distribution of its seeds.

Fruit length max:

1 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.775 cm

Fruit length min:

0.6 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Tacca plantaginea has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include plantagineoside A, plantagineoside B, plantagineoside C.

plantagineoside A

1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters

plantagineoside B

1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters

plantagineoside C

1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters

Conditions

Tacca plantaginea has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer.

Cancer

1. Phytochemistry

Preparations

Tacca plantaginea has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aqueous fraction of the methanol extract, methanol extract of the whole plant.

Aqueous fraction of the methanol extract

1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters

Methanol extract of the whole plant

1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters