Blue Stars

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Blue Corn-Lily
• Star Capeblue
• blue stars

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Aristea lastii
• Aristea stipitata

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Aristea ecklonii, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Asparagales and the family Iridaceae. Finally, it is classified under the genus Aristea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad and diverse geographical distribution across multiple continents. In Northern Europe, its presence can be specifically identified within Great Britain. Moving toward the Mediterranean region, it is also found throughout Southwestern Europe, including France. The species has a significant footprint in West-Central Tropical Africa, where it grows in Cameroon. Furthermore, its range extends to other parts of the West-Central Tropical Africa region, specifically inhabiting Burundi and Rwanda.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Aristea ecklonii is characterized by its distribution across a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from lowland environments to higher elevations. It is found at minimum altitudes of 30 m AMSL, extending upward to a maximum elevation of 1980 m AMSL. This wide elevational range allows the species to inhabit diverse ecological niches, though it maintains a presence in lowland habitats throughout its distribution.

Elevational range max:

1980 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

30 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Aristea ecklonii is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a cryptophyte, it employs a survival strategy where its regenerative buds are located below the soil surface, protected from environmental stressors. Specifically, it functions as a geophyte, utilizing underground storage organs to endure unfavorable conditions. Throughout its existence, the plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and present across different stages of its life cycle.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Aristea ecklonii is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. It is a terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor as an epiphyte. In terms of structural habit, the species is self-supporting rather than being a liana or vine. The plant maintains a relatively low stature, with a height ranging from a minimum of 0.15 m to a maximum of 0.7 m, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 0.61 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.7 m

Plant height mean:

0.609607413 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Aristaea ecklonii is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency within its ecological niche. The plant's vegetative structure features elongated, linear leaves that exhibit significant morphological variability; individual leaves can range in length from a minimum of 10 cm to a maximum of 60 cm. Complementing this length, the leaf width is relatively narrow, with a mean width of 1 cm, fluctuating between a minimum of 0.5 cm and a maximum of 1.1 cm. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic associations required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms and must instead rely on available soil nitrogen for its nutritional requirements.

Leaf length max:

60 cm

Leaf length min:

10 cm

Leaf width max:

1.1 cm

Leaf width mean:

1 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Aristea ecklonii involves both sexual and asexual processes, as asexual reproduction is present in this species. For its sexual cycle, the plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. The resulting fruits are relatively small, with a mean length of 2 cm. Within these fruits, the seeds exhibit highly uniform dimensions, characterized by a mean length of 1.5 mm, a mean width of 1.5 mm, and a minimum and maximum length and width that all consistently measure 1.5 mm. The seed mass is also quite precise, ranging from a minimum of 0.00112 g to a maximum of 0.00127 g, with an overall mean mass of 0.001195 g. Regarding the movement of offspring, the plant employs an unspecialized dispersal syndrome, meaning its dispersal mechanisms do not fall into highly specific categories such as anemochory or hydrochory, but rather function through general, unspecialized means.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Fruit length mean:

2 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

present

Seed length mean:

1.5 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00127 g

Seed mass mean:

0.001195 g

Seed mass min:

0.00112 g

Seed width mean:

1.5 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Aristea ecklonii 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. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Aristea ecklonii has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Plumbagin.

Plumbagin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Aristea ecklonii has 2 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Organic and aqueous extracts, organic leaf extract.

Organic and aqueous extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Organic leaf extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology