Mulberry Mistletoe

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Mulberry Mistletoe

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Scurrula chinensis
• Loranthus estipitatus
• Loranthus chinensis
• Loranthus sakoembangensis
• Taxillus estipitatus
• Cichlanthus chinensis

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 organized under the order Santalales and the family Loranthaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Taxillus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several regions in East and Southeast Asia. Within China, its presence is noted in Hainan and throughout China Southeast. Moving into the Indo-China region, it can also be found in the country of Cambodia. Furthermore, the species extends its range into Laos. Finally, its distribution encompasses parts of Thailand.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Taxillus chinensis is characterized by a specific altitudinal distribution that dictates its habitat preferences and environmental niche. This species thrives across a broad vertical gradient, occupying lowland and foothills regions with a minimum elevation of 20 m AMSL. Its presence is most concentrated in mid-lowland zones, maintaining a mean elevation of approximately 210 m AMSL, which suggests a preference for warmer, more temperate to subtropical climates typically found at these levels. The upper limit of its ecological range is reached at 400 m AMSL, indicating that while it is highly adaptable to lower-lying terrains, it is restricted from higher montane environments. This elevational profile implies that the plant is likely integrated into lowland forest ecosystems or coastal scrublands where moisture and temperature levels remain relatively stable within this specific altitudinal window.

Elevational range max:

400 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

210 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

20 m AMSL

Morphology

The morphology of Taxillus chinensis is characterized by its distinct growth form and structural habits. It functions as a woody shrub, displaying a robust and perennial architecture. As a climber, the plant exhibits a self-supporting nature, allowing it to navigate its environment through its own structural integrity. Furthermore, it possesses an obligatory epiphytic lifestyle, meaning it grows upon other plants for physical support while maintaining its specific biological niche.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

obligatory

Growth form :

shrub

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Taxillus chinensis is characterized by a specialized metabolic framework designed to support its growth within its specific ecological niche. Central to its energy acquisition is its photosynthetic pathway, which follows the C3 mechanism. In this process, the plant utilizes the enzyme Rubisco to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide into a three-carbon molecule, typically 3-phosphoglycerate, during the initial stages of the Calvin cycle. This C3 photosynthetic pathway dictates the plant's water-use efficiency and its carbon assimilation rates, influencing how it manages gas exchange through its stomata in response to varying environmental light and temperature conditions. This metabolic strategy is fundamental to the plant's overall carbon sequestration and the synthesis of the complex secondary metabolites that define its biological profile.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Taxillus chinensis has 2 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 leaf, seed.

Leaf

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Seed

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Taxillus chinensis has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Cardiac Glycosides, Flavonoid, Flavonoids, Glycosides, Hyperoside.

Cardiac Glycosides

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Flavonoid

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Flavonoids

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Glycosides

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Hyperoside

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Salicylic Acids

1. Talanta

quercitrin

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations