Achyranthes sessilis

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Rabbit-meat
• Dwarf Copperleaf
• Sessile Joyweed
• chaff flower

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Paronychia sessilis
• Alternanthera sibirica
• Illecebrum sessile
• Bucholzia polygonoides
• Alternanthera polygonoides
• Alternanthera denticulata var. bifaria
• Illecebrum denticulatum
• Illecebrum indicum
• Illecebrum sessile
• Alternanthera ficoides var. versicolor
• Paronychia dubia
• Steiremis sessilifolia
• Gomphrena polygonoides
• Alternanthera sessilis var. angustifolia
• Alternanthera sessilis f. lanceolata
• Gomphrena sessilis
• Alternanthera sessilis f. lanceolata
• Alternanthera sessilis var. major
• Alternanthera sessilis var. neglecta
• Telanthera polygonoides
• Alternanthera sessilis var. parviflora
• Achyranthes sessilis
• Alternanthera sessilis f. spathulifolia
• Telanthera polygonoides var. compacta
• Alternanthera sessilis var. stauntonii
• Achyranthes triandra
• Alternanthera sessilis var. tenuissima
• Telanthera polygonoides var. major
• Achyranthes villosa
• Alternanthera tenuissima
• Alternanthera repens
• Alternanthera prostrata
• Achyranthes linearifolia
• Alternanthera ficoides
• Alternanthera ficoides var. minor
• Alternanthera glabra
• Alternanthera denticulata var. major
• Alternanthera achyranth
• Alternanthera achyranthoides
• Illecebrum sibiricum
• Illecebrum triandrum
• Illecebrum triandrum
• Illecebrum polygonoides

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, placing it within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified under the order Caryophyllales and the family Amaranthaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Alternanthera.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several distinct regions. In Middle Europe, it can be found specifically within Germany. Its presence extends to Southwestern Europe, where it grows in Spain. The species also inhabits various parts of Northern Africa, including Algeria and Tunisia. Finally, its range reaches further east into Northern Africa to include Egypt.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Alternanthe sessilis is characterized by a broad adaptability to diverse environmental conditions and a wide altitudinal distribution. This species can be found across an elevational range spanning from 0 to 2000 m AMSL. Its habitat preferences are notably diverse, allowing it to thrive in various ecosystems including Anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), the Caatinga (strict sense), Campo Rupestre, the Cerrado (broad sense), and within Atlantic Forests or Gallery Forests (Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria).

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Campo Rupestre, Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria

Genetics

The genetics of Alternanthera sessilis are characterized by significant chromosomal variation, with recorded chromosome numbers including 34, 36, 40, and 96. Despite this diversity in total chromosome counts across different populations or varieties, the plant typically exhibits a diploid ploidy level of 2.

Chromosome number :

34, 36, 40, 96

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Alternanthe sessilis is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist across multiple growing seasons through a variable lifecycle that can adapt to its environment. As a therophyte, it typically completes its reproductive cycle via seeds, often functioning as an annual or biennial in certain climates, though its perennial nature ensures long-term survival. This species maintains an evergreen habit, retaining its foliage throughout the year rather than shedding it seasonally. Its growth strategy is defined by its therophytic life form, which enables it to thrive in various habitats by prioritizing rapid seed production and survival through distinct life stages.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Alternanthe sessilis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It typically exhibits a self-supporting climbing habit, though it functions as a self-supporting structure rather than an obligatory liana or vine. The plant displays an ascending shoot orientation and reaches a plant height ranging from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 1 m, with a mean height of approximately 0.3 m. In terms of its ecological niche and habit, it is a terrestrial species, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.3 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Alternanthela sessilis is characterized by a specialized photosynthetic pathway utilizing the C4 mechanism, which allows for efficient carbon fixation and optimized resource use. Morphologically, the plant exhibits a significant range in leaf dimensions, with leaf lengths spanning from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 15 cm. The leaf width shows similar variability, ranging from a minimum of 0.3 cm to a maximum of 3 cm, with a mean leaf width recorded at 0.5 cm. In terms of water storage and structural adaptation, the species does not exhibit succulence, maintaining a non-succulent tissue structure. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, lacking the physiological capacity to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms through symbiotic relationships.

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length min:

1 cm

Leaf width max:

3 cm

Leaf width mean:

0.5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C4

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Alternanthera sessilis involves both sexual and asexual mechanisms, with asexual reproduction being a present and viable mode for the plant. During its flowering period, which typically begins in July and concludes in August, the plant produces small inflorescences ranging from a minimum of 0.0007 m to a maximum of 0.0015 m in length. The reproductive process includes self-fertilization, which is present in this species. The resulting fruits are classified as utricles and are indehiscent in nature. These fruits are quite small, with a mean length of 0.1625 cm (ranging from 0.2 cm to 0.25 cm) and a mean width of 0.2 cm. Within these fruits, the seeds exhibit a consistent length of approximately 1 mm. The seed mass is highly minute, with a mean of 0.000393333333333333 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.0003 g to a maximum of 0.00048 g. Regarding the movement of progeny, the plant utilizes an unspecialized dispersal syndrome, lacking highly specific evolutionary adaptations for a single vector.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit length max:

0.25 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.1625 cm

Fruit length min:

0.2 cm

Fruit type :

utricle

Fruit width mean:

0.2 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.0015 m

Inflorescence length min:

7e-04 m

Reproduction asexual :

present

Seed length mean:

1 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00048 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000393333333333333 g

Seed mass min:

3e-04 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Alternanthera sessilis has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem.

Leaf

1. Journal of Asian natural products research

Stem

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Chemicals

Alternanthera sessilis has 19 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Terpenes, (+)-catechin, CHLOROFORM, Carotenoids, Distilled water.

Terpenes

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. The Indian journal of medical research

(+)-catechin

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

CHLOROFORM

1. Tropical biomedicine

Carotenoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Distilled water

1. Tropical biomedicine

ETHYL ACETATE

1. Tropical biomedicine

HEXANE

1. Tropical biomedicine

Hexadecanoic acid

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

RUTIN

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Saponins

1. The Indian journal of medical research

Activities

Alternanthera sessilis has 5 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Anthelmintic, Antihyperglycemic, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.

Analgesic

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Anthelmintic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antihyperglycemic

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Antimicrobial

1. Journal of Asian natural products research

Antioxidant

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Conditions

Alternanthera sessilis has 26 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include pain, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, abdominal pain, asthma, cancer.

Pain

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

1. Journal of Asian natural products research

Abdominal pain

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Asthma

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cancer

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Cardiovascular diseases

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chronic pain

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Convulsion

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Diarrhea

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Dysentery

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Alternanthera sessilis has 13 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include As.Cr, Crude extracts, aqueous extract, aqueous fraction, chloroform extract of the air-dried leaves.

As.cr

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Crude extracts

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Aqueous extract

1. Fitoterapia

Aqueous fraction

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chloroform extract of the air-dried leaves

1. Journal of Asian natural products research

Crude ethanolic extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Dichloromethane fraction

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ethanol extract

1. Fitoterapia

Ethanolic extract

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Ethanolic extracts

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM