Anchus arvensis

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Anchus arvensis

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lycopsis arvensis subsp. occidentalis
• Anchusa arvensis var. stricta
• Anchusa lateriflora
• Lycopsis orientalis
• Lycopsis arvensis
• Anchusa arvensis subsp. occidentalis
• Buglossa arvensis
• Buglossites arvensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Boraginales and the family Boraginaceae, it is classified under the genus Anchusa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed throughout various regions of Northern Europe. Its presence is documented in Denmark, where it grows within specific ecological niches. The species can also be found in Finland, extending its reach across the northern territories. Additionally, its range includes the Faroe Islands and the coastal areas of Great Britain. Finally, the distribution continues southward to include the island of Ireland.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Anchusa arvensis is characterized by its ability to thrive in specific environmental niches, primarily occupying open roadside areas that are subject to management. This species demonstrates significant adaptability to varying altitudes, maintaining a broad elevational range that extends from a minimum of 500 m AMSL to a maximum of 3300 m AMSL. This wide vertical distribution suggests a resilience to diverse temperature gradients and atmospheric pressures across different mountain and lowland landscapes.

Elevational range max:

3300 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

500 m AMSL

Habitat :

open roadsides managed

Life history

The life history of Anchusa arvensis is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning it completes its entire biological progression from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, the plant survives the unfavorable seasons primarily through the production of resistant seeds rather than through overwintering vegetative structures. Its growth habit is strictly deciduous, shedding its foliage as the life cycle concludes and the plant dies back at the end of the season.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Anchusa arvensis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not exhibit climbing or vining behavior, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. As a strictly terrestrial species, it lacks aquatic or semiaquatic adaptations. The plant reaches a varying height depending on environmental conditions, with a minimum stature of 0.1 m, a mean height of 0.2 m, and a maximum height of up to 0.6 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.6 m

Plant height mean:

0.2 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Anchusa arvensis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a carbon fixation process typical of many temperate herbaceous plants. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies entirely on soil-based nutrient uptake rather than the capture of prey. Its leaf morphology exhibits significant variability, with leaf lengths reaching a maximum of 15 cm and leaf widths ranging from a minimum of 0.5 cm to a maximum of 1.5 cm. The average leaf size is recorded at 17.79 cm², while the Specific Leaf Area (SLA) maintains a mean value of 165.25 cm²/g, reflecting the plant's resource allocation strategy and leaf thickness relative to its biomass.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf size mean:

17.79 cm²

Leaf width max:

1.5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

165.25 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Anchusa arvensis is characterized by a sexual process through bisexual flowers, with asexual reproduction being entirely absent. The flowering period typically commences in May and concludes in July. The plant relies on biotic pollination syndromes, specifically utilizing insects, with bees acting as a primary pollinator. To ensure genetic diversity, self-fertilization is absent in this species. Once fertilization occurs, the plant produces seeds with a mean mass of 0.00504 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.00426 g to a maximum of 0.00684 g. Seed dispersal follows a zoochorous strategy, specifically employing myrmecocory, which involves transport by ants to facilitate the spread of the species.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

myrmecochorous

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jul

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.00684 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00504 g

Seed mass min:

0.00426 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Anchusa arvensis has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include HEPTACOSANE, TETRATETRACONTANE.

HEPTACOSANE

1. Natural product research

TETRATETRACONTANE

1. Natural product research

Conditions

Anchusa arvensis has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer.

Cancer

1. Drug design, development and therapy

Preparations

Anchusa arvensis has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Essential oil.

Essential oil

1. Natural product research