Chloranthus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Chloranthaceae (order Chloranthales) and is the type genus of its family. It comprises about 17 species of subshrubs or perennial herbs native to temperate and tropical Asia, with the greatest diversity in China (13 species, nine of which are endemic).
Plants are characterised by jointed stems with opposite or whorled, simple, serrate leaves connected by a transverse ridge at the petiole base. Stipules are tiny. The inflorescences are slender terminal or axillary spikes (sometimes branched into panicles), bearing small, bisexual flowers that lack a perianth. Stamens are usually three (rarely one), positioned on one side of the ovary apex, with connectives that range from ovoid to linear. The ovary is single-chambered with one pendulous ovule, and the style is usually absent. Fruits are globose, obovoid, or pyriform drupes.
The genus includes well-known species such as Chloranthus spicatus, C. japonicus, and C. fortunei. In China, Chloranthus plants are used for medicinal purposes. The genomes of C. sessilifolius and C. spicatus were sequenced in 2021.
Distribution
Chloranthus is native to temperate and tropical Asia, ranging across East Asia including China, Japan, and Korea. Of the approximately 17 species worldwide, 13 occur in China — nine of which are endemic. The genus extends from temperate regions into tropical zones of the Asian continent.
Taxonomy Notes
Chloranthus was published by Olof Swartz in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society (77: 359) in 1787. It is the type genus of the family Chloranthaceae. Two historical synonyms exist: Nigrina Thunberg and Tricercandra A. Gray. The Chinese name for the genus is 金粟兰属 (jin su lan shu). In 2021, the genomes of Chloranthus sessilifolius and Chloranthus spicatus were independently sequenced, contributing to understanding of early-diverging angiosperm lineages.
Cultural Uses
In China, Chloranthus plants are used for medical purposes. Chloranthus spicatus in particular is traditionally used in Chinese medicine.
