Wikstroemia retusa

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Daphne grayana
• Wikstroemia obovata

Regional and Traditional Names

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 and order Malvales, it is further categorized into the family Thymelaeaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Wikstroemia, specifically as the species Wikstroemia retusa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a distinct geographical distribution across several key regions in Asia. Within Eastern Asia, it can be found specifically in the Nansei-shoto islands. The species is also documented to grow naturally throughout Taiwan. Moving into the Malesia region, the plant extends its range to the Philippines. Consequently, its habitat spans a diverse stretch of island territories across the eastern and southern parts of the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Wikstroemia retusa is characterized by its status as a perennial species, meaning it maintains its vegetative presence through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle in a single year. As a perennial woody plant, it establishes a long-term existence within its ecosystem, undergoing successive cycles of seasonal growth, flowering, and seed production. Throughout its lifespan, the plant undergoes various stages of development, from the initial establishment of its root system and stem structure to the maturation of its reproductive organs. Its prolonged lifecycle allows it to persist in its natural habitat over many years, contributing to the stability of its local environment through continuous biological activity and long-term structural presence.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Wikstroemia retusa is characterized by its distinct growth form and structural composition. It presents as a woody shrub, exhibiting a robust and perennial development rather than a herbaceous or graminoid habit. In terms of its physical support and climbing tendencies, the plant is classified as self-supporting, meaning it does not rely on external structures through obligatory or facultative climbing mechanisms to maintain its upright posture. Its structural integrity is defined by its woody nature, providing the necessary firmness for its shrubby architecture.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

shrub

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiological development of the foliage in Wikstroemia retusa is characterized by highly specific morphological dimensions that dictate its photosynthetic surface area. The leaf architecture exhibits a consistent range in size, with leaf lengths typically spanning from a minimum of 2.5 cm to a mean of 2.75 cm, reaching a maximum extent of 3 cm. Complementing this longitudinal growth, the leaf width is regulated within a narrow margin, maintaining a minimum width of 1.5 cm and expanding to a maximum width of 2 cm. These precise dimensional parameters suggest a specialized adaptation in leaf morphology that optimizes the plant's light interception and gas exchange capabilities within its natural habitat.

Leaf length max:

3 cm

Leaf length mean:

2.75 cm

Leaf length min:

2.5 cm

Leaf width max:

2 cm

Leaf width min:

1.5 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Wikstroemia retusa is characterized by the development of distinct fruit structures that play a critical role in its life cycle and seed dispersal. The plant produces fruits that exhibit a high degree of uniformity in size, with morphological measurements indicating a consistent dimension across the population. Specifically, the fruit length is measured at a constant value of 0.6 cm, a figure that remains steadfast as both the minimum and maximum recorded length, as well as the mean fruit length. This lack of variance in fruit size suggests a stabilized reproductive strategy, where the resulting fruits are consistently small, measuring exactly 0.6 cm in length, ensuring a standardized method for the propagation of the species.

Fruit length max:

0.6 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Wikstroemia retusa has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Gnidimacrin, Oleodaphnal, Stelleralide A, wikstroelide A.

Gnidimacrin

1. Journal of medicinal chemistry

Oleodaphnal

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Stelleralide A

1. Journal of medicinal chemistry

wikstroelide A

1. Journal of medicinal chemistry

Conditions

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

Breast cancer

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)