Wurfbainia uliginosa

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cardamomum uliginosum
• Amomum uliginosum
• Amomum ovoideum
• Amomum robustum

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, specifically classified within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is a member of the order Zingiberales and falls under the family Zingiberaceae. Taxonomically, it is identified by the genus Wurfbainia, with the specific species being Wurfbainia uliginosa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Wurfbainia uliginosa, exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated within the Indo-China region. It can be found growing naturally throughout the diverse landscapes of Cambodia. Additionally, its presence extends into the forested areas of Laos and Myanmar. The species is also well-documented across the territories of Thailand. Finally, its habitat encompasses the various ecological zones found in Vietnam.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Wurfbainia uliginosa is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its ecological strategy and physical structure, it is classified as a cryptophyte, meaning its regenerative buds are located underground or at the soil surface to survive unfavorable conditions. Furthermore, its specific life form is identified as a geophyte, indicating that it relies on specialized underground storage organs to maintain its long-term survival and facilitate regrowth.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Wurfbainia uliginosa is characterized by its growth form as a herb, exhibiting a non-woody structure. The plant typically reaches a mean height of 2.5 m, though it can attain a maximum height of up to 3 m. It functions as a self-supporting climber, maintaining an independent existence as it is not a parasite. Furthermore, it is a terrestrial species rather than an epiphyte.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

2.5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Wurfbainia uliginosa is characterized by its metabolic processes and nutrient acquisition strategies, specifically regarding its interaction with soil chemistry. In terms of its nitrogen metabolism, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, such as Rhizobium, required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms. Consequently, its physiological growth and development are heavily dependent on the uptake of nitrates or ammonium directly from the soil substrate through its root system. This reliance on available soil nitrogen dictates its nutrient assimilation patterns and influences its overall resource allocation strategies during various stages of its life cycle.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Wurfbainia uliginosa has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (E,E)-Farnesol, (E,E)-farnesyl acetate.

(E,E)-Farnesol

1. Journal of natural medicines

(E,E)-farnesyl acetate

1. Journal of natural medicines