bugle weed

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• carpet bugle
• creeping bugle
• creeping bugleweed
• Bugle
• blue bugle
• bugleherb
• bugleweed
• common bugle
• Carpet Bugleweed

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ajuga reptans var. pyramidata
• Ajuga reptans var. alba
• Bugula reptans var. hirsuta
• Ajuga reptans var. caerulea
• Ajuga nanti
• Ajuga reptans var. radicans
• Ajuga reptans var. rubra
• Ajuga stoloniflora
• Ajuga reptans var. lerezana
• Ajuga vulgaris proles candolleana
• Ajuga reptans subvar. densiflora
• Ajuga reptans var. alpina
• Ajuga vulgaris subsp. abnormis
• Ajuga reptans var. albiflora
• Bugula reptans
• Ajuga abnormis
• Bugula decumbens
• Ajuga barrelieri
• Teucrium reptans
• Ajuga candolleana
• Ajuga breviproles
• Ajuga vulgaris var. bifera
• Ajuga vulgaris var. breviproles
• Ajuga vulgaris subsp. nanti

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Lamiales and the family Lamiaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Ajuga, specifically as the species Ajuga reptans.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across the northern regions of Europe. It can be found growing naturally throughout Great Britain and Ireland. Its presence is also well-documented across the Scandinavian Peninsula, specifically in Norway and Sweden. Additionally, the species inhabits the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. Collectively, these locations highlight its prevalence within the Northern European landscape.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Ajuga reptans is characterized by its presence in diverse environments, including forests, meadows, wet meadows, mountains, and shrubberies. This species occupies a specific altitudinal niche, with an elevational range spanning from a minimum of 2500 m AMSL to a maximum of 2800 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

2500 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, meadows, meadows: wet, mountains, shrubberies

Life history

The life history of Ajuga reptans is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a hemicryptophyte, a life form where the perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or organic matter during unfavorable conditions. This species maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and provides continuous ground cover throughout much of the year.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ajuga reptans is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism, meaning it is not a parasite. The plant is self-supporting rather than being a climber, liana, or vine, and it does not exhibit epiphytic behavior. In terms of stature, it maintains a relatively low profile with a plant height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.07 m to a maximum of 0.35 m, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 0.15 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.35 m

Plant height mean:

0.150666666666667 m

Plant height min:

0.07 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ajuga reptans is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy typical of plants growing in temperate environments. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies entirely on soil-based nutrient uptake rather than the capture of prey. Its leaf morphology displays a mean width of 1.9 cm, with both the minimum and maximum recorded widths remaining consistent at 1.9 cm. The leaf dimensions extend to a maximum length of 4.8 cm, contributing to a mean leaf size of 5.56 cm². Furthermore, the plant exhibits a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 347 cm²/g, reflecting its resource allocation strategy regarding leaf thickness and photosynthetic capacity.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

4.8 cm

Leaf size mean:

5.56 cm²

Leaf width mean:

1.9 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

347 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ajuga reptans is characterized by a specialized reproductive cycle that relies heavily on biotic interactions. The flowering period typically begins in April and extends through July, facilitating a window for sexual reproduction. The plant follows a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically utilizing insects, with a strong emphasis on bees as primary pollinators. Notably, self-fertilization is absent, necessitating these insect visits to ensure genetic exchange. Following successful pollination, the plant produces seeds with a very small mass, ranging from a minimum of 0.0014 g to a maximum of 0.00147 g, with a mean seed mass of approximately 0.0014525 g. The dispersal of these seeds is governed by an autochorous syndrome, meaning they are dispersed via autochory. Furthermore, the data indicates that asexual reproduction is absent in this specific context, placing the primary focus of its life cycle on these sexual processes.

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Jul

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.00147 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0014525 g

Seed mass min:

0.0014 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Ajuga reptans has 20 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 8-O-Acetylharpagide, Harpagide, 29-Norsengosterone, Ajugalactone, Ajugol.

8-O-Acetylharpagide

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of natural products

Harpagide

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of natural products

29-Norsengosterone

1. Dr. Duke

Ajugalactone

1. Dr. Duke

Ajugol

1. Dr. Duke

Ajugoside

1. Dr. Duke

Aucubin

1. Dr. Duke

Cyanidin

1. Dr. Duke

Cyasterone

1. Dr. Duke

Delphinidin

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Ajuga reptans has 70 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant, (-)-Chronotropic, (-)-Inotropic, Allelochemic.

Antibacterial

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

Antioxidant

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

(-)-Chronotropic

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Anabolic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Ajuga reptans has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include arthritis, bleeding, fever, pain, wound.

Arthritis

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Bleeding

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Fever

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Pain

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Wound

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Ajuga reptans has 3 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include 100 mg dw/mL extract, MeOH extract, ethanol extracts.

100 mg dw/ml extract

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Meoh extract

1. Journal of natural products

Ethanol extracts

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)