PlantaeDB Logo
Login Sign-up

Genus Kadsura in Family Schisandraceae

In botanical taxonomy, a genus (plural genera) is a rank used to group closely related species within a family. In the hierarchy, genus sits below family and above species.

Genera are defined by shared morphological, anatomical, and genetic characteristics (for example, features of flowers, fruits, seeds, or leaves) that indicate a close evolutionary relationship among the species they contain.

Each genus can include one or more species. Examples include Rosa (roses) and Solanum (nightshades, including tomato and eggplant).

Do you wish to read more about plant taxonomy? Click here!

Genus Description

Suggest a correction!

Kadsura is a genus of climbing vines in Schisandraceae (APG IV, 2016). About 30 species are recognized (POWO, 2024), with the type species Kadsura japonica (L.) Juss. Their distribution spans East and Southeast Asia, from the Himalayas through southern China, Taiwan, Japan, northern Vietnam and Thailand, inhabiting subtropical to montane evergreen forests up to ~2000 m.

Morphologically the genus is characterized by twining habit, simple alternate leathery leaves lacking stipules and a sparse indumentum on young shoots. Flowers are unisexual, plants dioecious, and arranged in axillary spikes or panicles; each flower bears many stamens surrounding a reduced gynoecium in males and a multi‑carpellate superior ovary in females. Ovules are borne on two to three parietal placentas, and the fruit is an aggregate of small fleshy drupes turning orange‑red when ripe. Seeds have a hard testa and a well‑developed embryo, facilitating bird‑mediated dispersal.

The center of diversity lies in southern China and northern Vietnam, where more than half of the known species are endemic to limestone karsts and humid montane forests. A second concentration occurs in Japan and Korea, represented mainly by Kadsura japonica and its close allies. Elevation ranges from lowland forest canopies to high‑elevation cloud forests, reflecting the genus’s adaptation to high humidity and shaded understories.

Pollination is primarily entomophilous, with flies and beetles recorded as frequent visitors, while fruit removal by frugivorous birds facilitates long‑distance seed dispersal (Zhang et al., 2022). Chromosome counts of 2n = 28 have been reported for several East Asian taxa, indicating a base number of x = 14 (Shao et al., 2019).

Phylogenetic studies place Kadsura as monophyletic within Schisandraceae, identifying three geographic clades—East Asian, South‑Chinese and Indo‑Burma (Zhang et al., 2022). Historically the genus has been treated without formal subgeneric ranks, though early authors sometimes recognized Kadsura sect. Eukadsura. Recent revisions synonymised several names, reducing species counts and refining circumscription (Wang et al., 2020). Alternative treatments still distinguish Himalayan and Indonesian populations, highlighting taxonomic uncertainty.

In horticulture Kadsura japonica is cultivated as an ornamental climber for its glossy foliage and fragrant flowers; locally harvested timber is used for small‑scale construction and carving. No species are widely exploited as crops, though occasional weediness is noted in cultivated lands. Several taxa are listed as threatened due to habitat loss, and increased field surveys and integrative taxonomy are required to assess their conservation status. Looking ahead, a robust taxonomy will guide targeted conservation for the genus.

Pick a Species to see its components: