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Schisandra

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Magnolia vine
Schisandra chinensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Order: Austrobaileyales
Family: Schisandraceae
Genus: Schisandra
Michx.[1]
Synonyms[2]
  • Schizandra, common misspelling
  • Stellandria Brickell
  • Sphaerostema Blume
  • Maximowiczia Rupr.
Flowers of Schisandra rubriflora at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK

Schisandra, the magnolia vines, is a genus of twining shrubs that generally climb on other vegetation. Various authors have included the plants in the Illiciaceae[3]

Schisandra (also spelled Schizandra) is native to Asia and North America, with a center of diversity in China.[2][4][5]

Some species are commonly grown in gardens as ornamentals. It is a hardy deciduous climber which thrives in almost any kind of soil; its preferred position is on a sheltered, shady wall. It may be propagated by cuttings of half-matured shoots in August.

Despite its common name "magnolia vine", Schisandra is not closely related to the true magnolias.

Uses

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Its dried fruit is sometimes used medicinally. In China, the berries of S. chinensis are given the name wǔwèizǐ (五味子; 'five flavor fruit') because they possess all five basic flavors in Chinese herbal medicine: salty, sweet, sour, pungent (spicy), and bitter. In traditional Chinese medicine it is used as a remedy for many ailments: to resist infections, increase skin health, combat insomnia, coughing, and thirst.[6]

Species

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accepted species[2]

Chemistry

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The extract of S. rubriflora, a native of the Yunnan province, was found to contain complex and highly oxygenated nortriterpenoids called rubriflorins A-C.[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Michaux, André. 1803. Flora Boreali-Americana 2: 218–219, pl. 47.
  2. ^ a b c Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  3. ^ Hutchinson, J. 1973. The Families of Flowering Plants, ed. 3. Oxford. Pp. 161-162. Smith, A. C. 1947. The families Illiciaceae and Schisandraceae. Sargentia 7: 1-224.
  4. ^ Flora of North America vol 3
  5. ^ Flora of China Vol. 7 Page 41 五味子属 wu wei zi shu Schisandra Michaux, Fl. Bor.-Amer. 2: 218. 1803.
  6. ^ Panossian A., Wikman G. Pharmacology of Schisandra chinensis Bail.: An overview of Russian research and uses in medicine . Journal of Ethnopharmacology. Vol 118/2 pp 183-212. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2008.04.020
  7. ^ Biota of North America Program 2013 county distribution map, Schisandra glabra
  8. ^ Xiao, W.-L. et al.. J. Nat. Prod. 2007, Web release : May 10th.
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