Baccharis coridifolia

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Eupatorium montevidense
• Lanugothamnus montevidensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asterales. Ultimately, Baccharis coridifolia is a member of the family Asteraceae and the genus Baccharis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across various regions of South America. In the western part of the continent, it can be found growing in both Bolivia and Peru. Its presence extends into Brazil, specifically within the southeastern and southern regions of the country. Additionally, the species inhabits the northeastern territory of Argentina in southern South America. Together, these locations highlight the diverse environmental range occupied by the species.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Baccharis coridifolia is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution and a high degree of adaptability to diverse Brazilian ecosystems. It thrives across an elevational range spanning from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 2050 m AMSL. This species demonstrates significant ecological plasticity, inhabiting a variety of distinct environments including anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), high-altitude grasslands (Campo de Altitude), open grasslands (Campo Limpo), the Cerrado biome (latu sensu), and coastal restinga ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

2050 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Campo de Altitude, Campo Limpo, Cerrado (lato sensu), Restinga

Life history

The life history of Baccharis coridifolia is characterized by its classification as a perennial species, meaning it persists through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its life cycle in a single year. As a perennial, the plant establishes a long-term presence in its habitat, often developing robust root systems that allow it to survive seasonal fluctuations and environmental stressors. This extended lifecycle enables the plant to undergo repeated reproductive cycles over several years, contributing to its stability and dominance within its ecological niche. Unlike annuals or biennials that undergo rapid growth and death, the perennial nature of Baccharis coridifolia supports a continuous developmental strategy, allowing for sustained biomass accumulation and long-term survival.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Baccharis coridifolia is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub, standing as a self-supporting plant within its ecosystem. It is a terrestrial species, neither aquatic nor semiaquatic, and it functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite. Furthermore, it does not exhibit epiphytic behavior, remaining strictly terrestrial in its habit. As a self-supporting shrub, it lacks the climbing or vining characteristics of lianas, maintaining a stable, upright, and woody structure.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Baccharis coridifolia is characterized by a metabolic framework governed by the C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates how the plant captures carbon dioxide and converts it into organic compounds. Under this C3 mechanism, the initial fixation of atmospheric CO2 occurs through the enzyme ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO), resulting in the formation of a three-carbon compound, 3-phosphoglycerate. This pathway implies that the plant's gas exchange and energy production are highly sensitive to environmental variables such as light intensity, temperature, and water availability. Because C3 plants lack the specialized carbon-concentrating mechanisms found in C4 or CAM species, the physiological efficiency of Baccharis coridifolia is closely tied to its ability to manage photorespiration, particularly in warmer or more arid conditions where the oxygenase activity of RuBisCO may increase. Consequently, its physiological performance and biomass accumulation are fundamentally driven by the efficiency of this C3 cycle within its leaf tissues.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Baccharis coridifolia has 3 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Cytotoxic, Prooxidant.

Antioxidant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Prooxidant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology