Thesium chinense

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Linosyris chinensis

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae, it follows the order Santalales and is a representative of the family Santalaceae. Specifically, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Thesium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution spanning across several distinct regions of Asia. In the northern reaches of its range, it can be found in Siberia within the Chita region. Moving eastward, the species is also documented throughout the Russian Far East, specifically in Amur, Khabarovsk, and Primorye. Furthermore, its presence extends significantly into China, particularly throughout the China South-Central area. Together, these locations highlight the varied environmental adaptability of Thesium chinense.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Thesium chinense is defined by its preference for diverse, open, and semi-shaded environments. It is typically found thriving within meadows, mountainous regions, and shrubberies, where it can integrate into the complex structural layers of the vegetation. By inhabiting these specific niches, the plant adapts to the varying light intensities and soil moisture levels characteristic of montane landscapes and the transitional zones of shrublands. Its presence in these habitats suggests a specialized role in the local ecosystem, often coexisting with diverse flora in areas that balance the openness of grasslands with the protective cover provided by woody shrubs and rugged terrain.

Habitat :

meadows, mountains, shrubberies

Life history

The life history of Thesium chinense is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural development and survival strategy, it functions as a hemicryptophyte, a life form where the perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or organic matter. This hemicryptophytic nature ensures its ability to endure seasonal changes and regrow from the base during favorable environmental conditions.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Thesium chinense is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. It typically exhibits a terrestrial habit, ranging from aquatic to semiaquatic environments depending on local conditions, though it is primarily categorized as terrestrial. The plant is relatively small in stature, with a height that varies between a minimum of 0.02 m and a maximum of 0.4 m. Functionally, it acts as a facultative parasite, meaning it has the capacity to derive nutrients from host plants but does not rely on them exclusively for survival. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit epiphytic behavior.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

facultative

Plant height max:

0.4 m

Plant height min:

0.02 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Thesium chinense is characterized by its sexual reproductive strategy, as the species is primarily bisexual, possessing both male and female reproductive organs within the same flower. The flowering cycle of the plant is relatively concentrated, with the flowering period typically starting in June and concluding within the same month, although the exact timing can remain variable depending on environmental conditions.

Flowering time :

Jun

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Thesium chinense 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. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Chemicals

Thesium chinense has 11 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ABA, Apigenin 5-O-neohesperidoside, Astragalin, CHLOROPHYLL, GA3.

ABA

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Apigenin 5-O-neohesperidoside

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Astragalin

1. Frontiers in chemistry

CHLOROPHYLL

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

GA3

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Kaempferol 3-O-glucoside

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Luteolin 7-O-glucoside

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Methyl p-hydroxycinnamate

1. Frontiers in chemistry

Rutinoside

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

kaempferol

1. Frontiers in chemistry

Activities

Thesium chinense has 3 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Chemopreventive, Cytotoxic.

Analgesic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemopreventive

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Thesium chinense has 8 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Streptococcus mutans, analgesic, antibiotic.

Fusobacterium nucleatum

1. Journal of natural medicines

Porphyromonas gingivalis

1. Journal of natural medicines

Streptococcus mutans

1. Journal of natural medicines

Analgesic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antibiotic

1. Scientific reports

Inflammation

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan

Pain

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan

Seed dormancy

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Preparations

Thesium chinense has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Bairui Granules.

Bairui granules

1. Frontiers in chemistry