Eupatory

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• White Thoroughwort
• Maui pamakani
• Mexican-devil
• catweed
• hemp-agrimony
• sticky snakeroot
• sticky-agrimony
• Mexican devil
• Sticky eupatorium
• Thoroughwort
• canyon kelp

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ageratina trapezoidea
• Eupatorium adenophorum
• Eupatorium glandulosum
• Eupatorium pasadenense
• Eupatorium trapezoideum
• Eupatorium pascuarense

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Ageratina adenophora, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, falling within the order Asterales. Finally, it is a member of the family Asteraceae and is placed in the genus Ageratina.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical presence across several European regions. In Middle Europe, its distribution includes Germany. Moving towards the southern parts of the continent, it is found within Southwestern Europe. Specifically, it inhabits the islands of Corse and the mainland territories of France. Furthermore, its range extends into the southwestern reaches of Portugal and Spain.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Ageratina adenophora is characterized by its broad adaptability across diverse landscapes and significant altitudinal gradients. This species thrives across an extensive elevational range, colonizing environments from as low as 30 m AMSL up to a maximum altitude of 2200 m AMSL. Its habitat preferences are highly versatile, allowing it to establish itself in forest ecosystems, along roadsides, in open areas, and within riparian zones. This ability to inhabit multiple ecological niches, ranging from shaded woodland settings to disturbed roadside margins and moist riverine environments, underscores its resilient and opportunistic growth patterns.

Elevational range max:

2200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

30 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, roadsides, open, riparian

Genetics

The genetics of Ageratina adenophora are characterized by a complex chromosomal makeup that contributes to its highly invasive nature and evolutionary adaptability. A defining cytogenetic feature of this species is its chromosome number, which has been documented at 51. This specific chromosomal count is a significant indicator of the plant's genomic stability and its ability to undergo rapid genetic shifts when colonizing new environments. Such chromosomal configurations often play a crucial role in the species' reproductive strategies and its capacity for polyploidy or aneuploidy, which facilitate its persistence across diverse ecological niches. These genetic parameters underpin the plant's physiological resilience and its ability to outcompete native flora through diverse adaptive mechanisms.

Chromosome number :

51

Life history

The life history of Ageratina adenophora is characterized by its classification as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennating buds are located at or just below the soil surface, a strategy that facilitates survival against various environmental stressors. This plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that it retains its foliage and photosynthetic capacity throughout much of its life cycle rather than shedding leaves seasonally. Together, these life history traits contribute to its ability to establish robust populations and maintain a continuous presence in its habitat.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ageratina adenophora is characterized by a growth form categorized as both a herb and a forb. This terrestrial, non-epiphyte species is independent rather than parasitic, maintaining a self-supporting habit that does not function as a climber. The plant exhibits an erect shoot orientation and is non-woody in structure. In terms of stature, it typically reaches a mean height of 2 m, though individual specimens can vary significantly, ranging from a minimum height of 0.3 m to a maximum height of 3 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

2 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ageratina adenophora is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. Its vegetative architecture is defined by an opposite leaf arrangement, where the leaves exhibit a significant morphological range in size and shape. The leaves are predominantly ovate in form, with dimensions varying from a minimum length of 4 cm to a maximum length of 15 cm. The width of these leaves is similarly diverse, ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 9 cm, with an observed mean leaf width of 5.3 cm. Furthermore, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available soil nitrogen rather than symbiotic atmospheric nitrogen fixation to support its physiological development.

Leaf arrangement :

opposite

Leaf form :

ovate

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf width max:

9 cm

Leaf width mean:

5.3 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

Reproduction in Ageratina adenophora is primarily achieved through sexual means, as asexual reproduction is absent. The plant features bisexual flowers that are white in color and arranged in a raceme inflorescence, with flower widths reaching a maximum of 0.6 cm. The flowering period typically begins in February and concludes in May, though the timing can be variable. Pollination is a biotic process driven by an insect pollination syndrome. While the plant does not exhibit self-fertilization, it successfully produces fruit in the form of indehiscent black achenes. These fruits are quite small, with a mean length and width of 0.1 cm, a minimum length of 0.15 cm, and a maximum length of 0.18 cm. Each fruit is highly prolific, containing between 101 and 1000 seeds. The seeds themselves are lightweight, with a mean mass of 5.76e-05 g, ranging from a minimum of 3e-05 g to a maximum of 7.4e-05 g. For dispersal, the plant utilizes an anemochorous syndrome, relying on the wind to spread its numerous seeds.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flower colour :

white

Flower width max:

0.6 cm

Flowering time :

Feb

Flowering time :

May

Fruit colour :

black

Fruit length max:

0.18 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.1 cm

Fruit length min:

0.15 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Fruit width mean:

0.1 cm

Inflorescence :

raceme

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

7.4e-05 g

Seed mass mean:

5.76e-05 g

Seed mass min:

3e-05 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Ageratina adenophora has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Chemicals

Ageratina adenophora has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 9-Oxo-10,11-dehydroageraphorone, Amorpha-4,7(11)-diene, Muurol-4-en-3,8-dione, Penialidin A, Phomoxanthone A.

9-Oxo-10,11-dehydroageraphorone

1. The New phytologist

Amorpha-4,7(11)-diene

1. The New phytologist

Muurol-4-en-3,8-dione

1. The New phytologist

Penialidin A

1. Natural product research

Phomoxanthone A

1. Natural product research

Sesquiterpenes

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Activities

Ageratina adenophora has 3 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Analgesic, Antiseptic.

Antibacterial

1. RSC advances
2. Fitoterapia

Analgesic

1. Fitoterapia

Antiseptic

1. Fitoterapia

Conditions

Ageratina adenophora has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus

1. Journal of tropical medicine

Preparations

Ageratina adenophora has 3 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Methanolic extracts, ethanolic leaf extracts, methanolic extracts.

Methanolic extracts

1. Journal of tropical medicine

Ethanolic leaf extracts

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Methanolic extracts

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies