Anisopappus chinensis

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Epallage dissitifolia
• Inula yunnanensis
• Verbesina chinensis
• Anisopappus candelabrum
• Myriactis candelabrum
• Chrysogonum philippinense

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. Within the order Asterales, it is classified under the family Asteraceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Anisopappus, specifically as the species Anisopappus chinensis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse range of locations throughout its natural habitat. Within China, its distribution spans across the South-Central and Southeast regions. Moving toward the Indian Subcontinent, it can be found in both Assam and the East Himalaya. Additionally, the species extends its reach into the Indo-China region, specifically in Cambodia. Together, these areas define the primary geographical footprint of Anisopus chinensis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Anisopappus chinensis is characterized by its specific altitudinal distribution across montane landscapes. This species typically inhabits environments within a diverse elevational gradient, ranging from a minimum altitude of 800 m AMSL to a maximum elevation of 2100 m AMSL. Throughout its preferred habitat, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 1470 m AMSL, indicating a preference for mid-to-high altitude ecological zones where specific temperature and moisture regimes are present.

Elevational range max:

2100 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1470 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

800 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Anisopappus chinensis is characterized by its classification as an annual plant, meaning it completes its entire developmental cycle—from germination to seed production—within a single growing season. As a therophyte, its biological strategy relies on completing its life cycle rapidly to exploit favorable environmental conditions before the onset of unfavorable periods. This life form is defined by the plant surviving the non-growing season primarily in the form of seeds, which remain dormant until the next period of suitable moisture and temperature. This lifecycle ensures the continuity of the species through efficient seed dispersal and rapid seasonal maturation.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Anisopappus chinensis is characterized by a non-woody, herbaceous growth form, functioning as both a herb and a forb. This plant is a self-supporting, non-climbing species that grows in a terrestrial habitat, rather than being aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic. As an independent organism, it does not exhibit parasitic behavior. In terms of stature, the plant typically reaches an average height of 1.5 m, though its size can vary, with minimum heights recorded at approximately 0.4 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

1.5 m

Plant height min:

0.4 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiological structure of the foliage in Anisopappus chinensis is characterized by specific morphological dimensions that define its photosynthetic surface area. The leaf dimensions exhibit measurable variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 6 cm, maintaining a mean length of approximately 4.5 cm. Complementing this longitudinal development, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 1 cm and a maximum of 2 cm. These quantitative traits suggest a specialized leaf architecture optimized for its specific ecological niche, where the variation in length and width facilitates efficient light interception and gas exchange processes essential to the plant's metabolic functions.

Leaf length max:

6 cm

Leaf length mean:

4.5 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf width max:

2 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Anisopappus chinensis involves the production of specialized fruit structures that are characterized by their consistent and minute dimensions. The resulting fruits exhibit a highly uniform morphology, with a measured length that remains constant across various specimens. Specifically, the fruit length maintains a mean value of 0.2 cm, a figure that is identical to both its minimum and maximum recorded measurements, indicating a lack of variability in this particular dimension. This precise fruit length of 0.2 cm ensures a standardized dispersal mechanism essential to the plant's life cycle and reproductive success.

Fruit length max:

0.2 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Anisopappus chinensis has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, MeOH, Terpenes.

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

MeOH

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Terpenes

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Anisopappus chinensis has 3 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimalarial, Antiplasmodial, Cytotoxic.

Antimalarial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antiplasmodial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology