Introduction:
The Alangium kurzii Craib, also known as the Mao Bajiao Maple or Long-haired Bajiao Maple, is a small deciduous tree or shrub belonging to the Alangium genus of the Alangiaceae family. It can grow up to 5-10 meters tall. The bark is dark brown, and the leaves are alternate. The fruit is oval or rectangular-oval in shape, initially purple-brown and later turning black, with persistent sepals at the top. It blooms from May to June and bears fruit in September.
Morphological characteristics:
The Alangium kurzii Craib is a deciduous small tree or shrub, growing up to 5-10 meters tall. The bark is dark brown and smooth. The branches are nearly cylindrical. The current year's branches are purple-green with light yellow hairs and short pubescence. The multi-year branches are dark brown, hairless, and have sparse white circular lenticels. The leaves are alternate, papery, nearly circular or broadly ovate, with a long tapering apex and a cordate or nearly cordate base, rarely nearly circular, inclined and asymmetric on both sides. They have a smooth margin and are 12-14 cm long and 7-9 cm wide. The upper surface is dark green, with only slight pubescence along the veins when young, and hairless elsewhere. The lower surface is light green with yellow-brown silk-like pubescence, denser on the upper side. There are 3-5 main veins, prominent on the upper surface and raised on the lower surface, and 6-7 pairs of lateral veins, slightly visible on the upper surface and prominent on the lower surface. The petiole is 2.5-4 cm long, nearly cylindrical, with yellow-brown pubescence or hairless. The umbel inflorescence has 5-7 flowers, with a total peduncle length of 3-5 cm and a pedicel length of 5-8 mm. The calyx is funnel-shaped, often divided into 6-8 sharp small sepals, and the petals are 6-8 linear, 2-2.5 cm long, basally fused and curled upward, with light yellow short pubescence on the outside and hairless on the inside, initially white and later turning pale yellow. There are 6-8 stamens, slightly shorter than the petals. The filaments are slightly flattened, 3-5 mm long, with sparse pubescence. The anthers are 12-15 mm long, and the connectives have long pubescence. The floral disk is nearly spherical with slight cracks and pubescence. The ovary has 2 chambers, each with 1 ovule. The style is cylindrical, with an enlarged upper part and a nearly spherical 4-lobed stigma. The fruit is oval or rectangular-oval, 1.2-1.5 cm long and 8 mm in diameter, initially purple-brown and later turning black, with persistent sepals at the top. It blooms from May to June and bears fruit in September.
Growth habits:
The growth habits of the Alangium kurzii Craib are not well-documented.
Geographical distribution:
It is found in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guizhou, Chongqing, and Guangxi provinces in China. It is also distributed in Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
Main varieties:
1. Alangium kurzii Craib (original variety)
The Alangium kurzii Craib var. kurzii.
2. Alangium kurzii Craib var. pachyphyllum Fang et Su in Acta Sci. (Thick-leaved variety)
This variety is distinguished from the original variety by its robustness and dense light yellow short pubescence. The leaves are thicker, leathery, ovate or rectangular-ovate in shape, and the petiole is shorter and stouter, only 1-1.5 cm long, rarely up to 2 cm. The inflorescence is 8 cm long with 8-10 petals, 2.3 cm long, densely covered with light yellow short pubescence on the outside and sparsely pubescent near the base on the inside. There are 8-10 stamens with short pubescence on the filaments, and the connectives have coarse yellow pubescence.
It is found in southern Yunnan, growing in sparse forests at elevations of 600-1600 meters. The type specimen was collected from Menghai, Yunnan.
3. Alangium kurzii Craib var. umbellatum (Yang) Fang (Umbellate variety)
This variety is distinguished from the original variety by its elongated elliptical or rectangular-ovate leaves with blunt or short acute apices, inclined bases, 7-14 cm in length and 3-6 cm in width. The leaves are pubescent only in the axils of the veins on the lower surface, hairless elsewhere. The petiole is 1.8-2.5 cm long. The inflorescence is umbellate or umbellate-like, 3-3.5 cm long, with 3-6 flowers. The corolla is 2-3 mm long, the anthers are 2-2.2 cm long, and the connectives have dense yellow coarse pubescence. The fruit is oval, 8-10 mm in length. It blooms from May to June and bears fruit in August-September.
It is found in Zhejiang and northern Fujian, growing in sparse forests below 1500 meters in elevation. The type specimen was collected from Jianyang, Fujian.
4. Alangium kurzii Craib var. handelii (Schnarf) Fang (Yunshan variety)
This variety is distinguished from the original variety by its rectangular-ovate or rarely elliptical leaves, which are nearly entire or slightly undulate except for inconspicuous coarse serrations near the apex. The leaves are 11-19 cm long and have pubescence on both sides when young but become hairless later. The petiole is 2-2.5 cm long. The inflorescence is 2.5-4 cm long, with 4 mm long filaments covered with coarse pubescence, 1.7-2 cm long anthers, and coarse pubescence at the base of the connectives. The fruit is oval, 8-10 mm long. It blooms in May and bears fruit in August.
It is found in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Anhui, southern Henan, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guizhou, Guangdong, and Guangxi, growing in mountainous areas and sparse forests below 1000 meters in elevation. The type specimen was collected from Yunsan, Wugang, Hunan.
5. Alangium kurzii Craib (variety)
This variety is distinguished from the original variety by its wider and sparser leaves, which are nearly circular or broadly ovate, 11-22 cm long and 9-16 cm wide. The petiole is longer, about 5-10 cm long. The fruit is oval, 10-12 cm long.
It is found in southern Jiangxi, southern Hunan, southern Guizhou, Guangdong, and Guangxi, growing in low-altitude mountains or sparse forests. The type specimen was collected from Yaoshan, Xiangzhou, Guangxi.
Significance:
1. Medicinal use
Alias: White Long Mustache
Source: The lateral and adventitious roots of the Alangium kurzii Craib. They are harvested in summer or autumn, washed, and used fresh or dried.
Chemical composition: The dried roots, stems, and branches of the Alangium kurzii Craib contain two alkaloids: ankorine and d1-anabasine.
Taste and properties: Spicy taste; warm in nature; toxic
Functions and indications: Relieving blood stasis and promoting blood circulation; dispersing swelling and relieving pain. It is used to treat bruises and fractures.
Usage and dosage: Internal use: decoction, 5-10g. External use: appropriate amount, apply fresh or powdered.
Precautions: Pregnant women should not take it.
2. Economic value
The seeds of this species can be pressed for industrial oil use.
