prickly chaff flower

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Chaff-flower
• Devil’s Horsewhip
• Man Better Man
• Worry Vine
• burweed
• chaffbur
• devil's horsewhip
• prickly chaff-flower
• Crocus stuff
• Crokars staff
• Prickly Chaff Flower

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Stachyarpagophora aspera
• Centrostachys aspera

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified within the order Caryophyllales and the family Amaranthaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Achyranthes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several distinct regions of the Mediterranean and beyond. In Middle Europe, its presence can be noted within the country of Austria. Moving toward the Mediterranean coasts, it is found in Southwestern Europe in both Spain and Sardegna. The species also inhabits Southeastern Europe, specifically within the territory of Sicilia. Finally, its range extends into Northern Africa, where it grows in Tunisia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Achyranthes aspera is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution, spanning from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 2900 m AMSL. This species is specifically adapted to distinct environmental niches, frequently inhabiting the Caatinga (stricto sensu) and Campo Rupestre ecosystems. Regarding its symbiotic relationships with soil fungi, the plant does not exhibit mycorrhizal associations (no).

Elevational range max:

2900 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Caatinga (stricto sensu), Campo Rupestre

Mycorrhiza :

no

Genetics

The genetics of Achyranthes aspera are characterized by a complex chromosomal landscape that exhibits significant variation across different populations and accessions. The plant demonstrates a diverse range of chromosome numbers, with documented values including 14, 36, 42, 48, 84, and 96. Despite this wide numerical dispersion, the baseline ploidy level is identified as 2, indicating that the observed variation in chromosome counts may stem from complex evolutionary processes or specific cytogenetic configurations within the species.

Chromosome number :

14, 36, 42, 48, 84, 96

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Achyranthhes aspera is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a therophyte, it completes its life cycle primarily through the production of seeds, which act as the main survival mechanism between favorable periods. The species maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that its vegetative structures remain functional and present throughout much of its life cycle. This combination of a perennial lifecycle and a therophytic life form allows the plant to effectively colonize diverse habitats, utilizing its biological traits to sustain itself over long periods.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Achyranthes aspera is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb or forb. This terrestrial plant functions as an independent organism and does not exhibit parasitic or epiphytic behaviors, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. In terms of stature, the plant displays significant variability in height, ranging from a minimum of 0.11 m to a maximum of 2 m, with an average height of approximately 1.38 m. Its structural development follows an ascending shoot orientation, and although it possesses a self-supporting habit rather than acting as a liana or vine, it maintains a sturdy, upright presence within its habitat.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

1.38 m

Plant height min:

0.11 m

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Achyranthis asperas is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a metabolic process optimized for standard atmospheric carbon dioxide fixation. The plant exhibits a non-succulent morphology, lacking specialized water-storage tissues, and does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil nutrient availability. Its foliar structure is defined by an opposite leaf arrangement, with leaves displaying an ovate form. The dimensions of these leaves vary significantly, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 12 cm, while the width fluctuates between a mean and minimum of 0.4 cm and a maximum of 6 cm.

Leaf arrangement :

opposite

Leaf form :

ovate

Leaf length max:

12 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf width max:

6 cm

Leaf width mean:

0.4 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Achyranthas aspera is characterized by a bisexual sexual reproductive system, where flowering typically commences in February and concludes in June. The plant produces red flowers arranged in paniculate inflorescences, which can range in length from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 0.45 m. Individual flowers are relatively small, measuring between 0.35 cm and 0.7 cm in length. The pollination process is driven by biotic factors, specifically utilizing an insect pollination syndrome. Self-fertilization is noted to be absent in this species. Following pollination, the plant develops indehiscent fruit categorized as a utricle, with fruit lengths typically averaging 0.2 cm and ranging from 0.2 cm to a maximum of 0.3 cm. Each fruit is prolific, containing between 101 and 1000 seeds. The seeds themselves are quite small, with a mean mass of approximately 0.00336 g, though they can range from a minimum of 0.0017 g to a maximum of 0.01143 g. Dispersal of the seeds is achieved through zoochorous and anthropochorous syndromes, facilitating the spread of the species via animals and human activity.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

red

Flower length max:

0.7 cm

Flower length min:

0.35 cm

Flowering time :

Feb

Flowering time :

Jun

Fruit length max:

0.3 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.2 cm

Fruit type :

utricle

Inflorescence :

panicle

Inflorescence length max:

0.45 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.1 m

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.01143 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00336368625 g

Seed mass min:

0.0017 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Achyranthes aspera has 4 reported plant parts identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root, flower, stem.

Leaf

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Frontiers in veterinary science
4. Journal of experimental pharmacology
5. Journal de mycologie medicale

Root

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine
2. Journal of pharmaceutical analysis

Flower

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine

Stem

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine

Chemicals

Achyranthes aspera has 48 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Saponins, OLEANOLIC ACID, (25S)-inokosterone-20,22-acetonide, -Spinasterol.

Flavonoids

1. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences
2. Frontiers in veterinary science
3. Ancient science of life

Saponins

1. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences
2. Frontiers in veterinary science
3. Ancient science of life

OLEANOLIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke
2. Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening

(25S)-inokosterone-20,22-acetonide

1. Journal of pharmaceutical analysis

-Spinasterol

1. Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening

20-HYDROXYECDYSONE

1. Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening

36,47-dihydroxyhenpentacontan-4-one

1. Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening

ACHYRANTHINE

1. Dr. Duke

Achyranthoside B

1. Journal of pharmaceutical analysis

Bidentatoside II

1. Journal of pharmaceutical analysis

Activities

Achyranthes aspera has 91 reported activities identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Diuretic, Abortifacient, Acetylcholinergic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences
3. Redox report : communications in free radical research

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences

Diuretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Acetylcholinergic

1. Dr. Duke

Analeptic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

AntiPGE2

1. Dr. Duke

AntiTGF-beta

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Achyranthes aspera has 27 reported investigations on conditions identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Alzheimer's disease, cancer, Bacillus subtilis, Candida albicans, Escherichia coli.

Alzheimer's disease

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Toxicology reports

Cancer

1. Redox report : communications in free radical research
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Bacillus subtilis

1. Recent patents on anti-infective drug discovery

Candida albicans

1. ISRN dentistry

Escherichia coli

1. Recent patents on anti-infective drug discovery

Gram-negative bacteria

1. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences

Gram-positive bacteria

1. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences

Klebsiella pneumoniae

1. Recent patents on anti-infective drug discovery

Oral cancer

1. Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening

Proteus vulgaris

1. Recent patents on anti-infective drug discovery

Preparations

Achyranthes aspera has 17 reported preparations identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanolic extracts, 80% ethanolic extract, A. aspera water-soluble extract (AAW), Crude extract, Different solvent extracts of leaves.

Ethanolic extracts

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

80% ethanolic extract

1. Ancient science of life

A. aspera water-soluble extract (aaw)

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Crude extract

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Different solvent extracts of leaves

1. Journal de mycologie medicale

Extracts

1. Recent patents on anti-infective drug discovery

Methanol and aqueous extracts

1. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences

Methanolic extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous extracts

1. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences

Aqueous extracts of achyranthes aspera

1. Ancient science of life