''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 ''Schisandra'' (also spelled ''Schizandra'') is native to Asia and North America, with a

center of diversity A center of origin is a geographical area where a group of organisms, either domesticated or wild, first developed its distinctive properties. They are also considered centers of diversity. Centers of origin were first identified in 1924 by Ni ...

in China. 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 ''Magnolia'' is a large genus of about 210 to 340The number of species in the genus ''Magnolia'' depends on the taxonomic view that one takes up. Recent molecular and morphological research shows that former genera ''Talauma'', ''Dugandiodendro ...

Uses

Its dried fruit is sometimes used medicinally. The berries of '' S. chinensis'' are given the name ''wu wei zi'' in Chinese (

五 Chinese numerals are words and characters used to denote numbers in Chinese. Today, speakers of Chinese use three written numeral systems: the system of Arabic numerals used worldwide, and two indigenous systems. The more familiar indigenous sy ...

味

子 Radical 39 or radical child () meaning "child" or " seed" is one of the 31 Kangxi radicals (214 radicals total) composed of three strokes. In the '' Kangxi Dictionary'', there are 83 characters (out of 49,030) to be found under this radical. i ...

; pinyin: wǔ wèi zi), which translates as "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, and combat insomnia, coughing, and thirst.

Species

;accepted species

Chemistry

The extract of ''S. rubriflora'', a native of the Yunnan province, was found to contain complex and highly oxygenated nortriterpenoids called rubriflorins A-C.Xiao, W.-L. ''et al.''. ''J. Nat. Prod.'' 2007, Web release : May 10th.

References

External links

* Schisandraceae ensu strictoin th
''Flora of North America''
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1277423 Angiosperm genera Medicinal plants Taxa named by André Michaux

Uses

Species

Chemistry

See also

References

External links