Dwarf Aspilia

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Dwarf Aspilia

Scientific Names

Accepted name

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 and the genus Aspilia. Specifically, the species is known as Aspilia pluriseta.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad presence across several distinct regions of the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, its range includes the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It can also be found in Northeast Tropical Africa, specifically within Sudan and South Sudan. Moving eastward, the species is distributed throughout East Tropical Africa, including Uganda. Finally, its southern reach extends into South Tropical Africa, where it is located in both Mozambique and Zambia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Aspilia pluriseta is defined by its capacity to inhabit a diverse range of altitudinal gradients, thriving in environments that span from lower lowland areas to mid-altitude terrains. Specifically, this species demonstrates a broad ecological amplitude with an elevational range starting at a minimum of 310 m AMSL and extending up to a maximum of 1220 m AMSL. This vertical distribution suggests an adaptability to varying temperature regimes and atmospheric pressures characteristic of tropical or subtropical montane and lowland transition zones. Its presence across such a significant altitudinal span indicates that the plant can tolerate a variety of microclimates and soil compositions found within these specific elevations.

Elevational range max:

1220 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

310 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Aspilia pluriseta is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, meaning it possesses the capacity to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth strategy and ecological positioning, the species functions as a therophyte, completing its reproductive cycle and surviving unfavorable conditions primarily through ephemeral structures or seeds that allow for rapid seasonal establishment. This life form indicates a specialized evolutionary adaptation to specific environmental stressors, ensuring its survival within its niche across varying temporal cycles.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Aspilia pluriseta is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, manifesting as both a herb and a forb. This self-supporting plant reaches a mean height of approximately 0.5 m, though it can attain a maximum height of up to 1.5 m. As a terrestrial species, it occupies land-based habitats rather than aquatic or epiphytic niches, and it functions as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Aspilia pluriseta is characterized by the production of relatively uniform, lightweight seeds, with a documented seed mass that remains constant at a mean, minimum, and maximum value of 0.00637 g. This specific seed size is closely linked to its dispersal strategy, as the plant primarily utilizes an anemochorous syndrome, relying on wind currents to transport its progeny across the landscape. While the primary mode of dispersal is anemochorous, the species also exhibits a complex suite of potential dispersal mechanisms, including zoochorous, autochorous, hydrochorous, and unspecialized methods, suggesting a versatile reproductive strategy capable of exploiting various environmental vectors for colonization.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Seed mass mean:

0.00637 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Aspilia pluriseta 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, root.

Leaf

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Root

1. Heliyon

Chemicals

Aspilia pluriseta has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Alkanes, Anthraquinones, Flavonoids, Terpenoids, fatty acid esters.

Alkanes

1. Heliyon

Anthraquinones

1. Heliyon

Flavonoids

1. Heliyon

Terpenoids

1. Heliyon

fatty acid esters

1. Heliyon

Conditions

Aspilia pluriseta has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Staphylococcus aureus.

Candida albicans

1. Heliyon

Escherichia coli

1. Heliyon

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

1. Heliyon

Staphylococcus aureus

1. Heliyon

Preparations

Aspilia pluriseta has 3 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include 80% ethanolic extracts of the leaves, ethanolic extracts, root extracts.

80% ethanolic extracts of the leaves

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Ethanolic extracts

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Root extracts

1. Heliyon