Baccharis dracunculifolia

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

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 and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Asterales and the family Asteraceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identification is placed within the genus Baccharis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several regions of South America. In the western portion of the continent, it can be found growing in both Bolivia and Peru. Its presence extends significantly into Brazil, where it inhabits multiple distinct territories. Specifically, it is documented within the West-Central and Southeast regions of Brazil. Additionally, the species is distributed throughout the southern part of the Brazilian landscape.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Baccharis dracunculifolia is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse environmental conditions and a broad altitudinal distribution. It thrives across an expansive elevational range, spanning from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to high-altitude environments reaching 3000 m AMSL. This species exhibits high ecological plasticity, colonizing a wide variety of habitats including anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), high-altitude grasslands (Campo de Altitude), open fields (Campo Limpo), and rocky outcrops (Campo Rupestre and Vegetação Sobre Afloramentos). Furthermore, it is integrated into complex biomes and forest types, such as the Cerrado (latu sensu), Restinga, Deciduous Seasonal Forests (Floresta Estacional Decidual), Semi-deciduous Seasonal Forests (Floresta Estacional Semi-decidual), Ombrophilous Forests (Floresta Ombrófila/Pluvial), and Mixed Ombrophilous Forests (Floresta Ombrófila Mista).

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Campo de Altitude, Campo Limpo, Campo Rupestre, Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Estacional Decidual, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Floresta Ombrófila Mista, Restinga, Vegetação Sobre Afloramentos

Life history

The life history of Baccharis dracunculifolia is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth strategy, it is classified as a phanerophyte, specifically exhibiting life forms consistent with both phanerophyte and nanophanerophyte categories, which indicates that its perennating buds are located well above the ground level on aerial stems.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Baccharis dracunculifolia is characterized by a woody growth form, primarily manifesting as a shrub. It is a terrestrial species that functions as an independent organism, rather than acting as a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant is self-supporting, lacking the climbing or vining habits of lianas, and it maintains a structured, non-aquatic existence in its natural habitat. In terms of scale, it can reach a maximum plant height of approximately 7 meters, exhibiting a robust, woody architecture.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

7 m

Woodiness :

woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Baccharis dracunculifolia has 26 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Baccharin, Flavonoids, caffeic acid, Artepillin C, LIMONENE.

Baccharin

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. BioFactors (Oxford, England)
3. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
3. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

caffeic acid

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. BioFactors (Oxford, England)
3. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

Artepillin C

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
2. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias

LIMONENE

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias

ferulic acid

1. BioFactors (Oxford, England)
2. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

p-coumaric acid

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. BioFactors (Oxford, England)

(E)-nerolidol

1. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias

4,5-Di-O-caffeoylquinic acid

1. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias

CINNAMIC ACID

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

Activities

Baccharis dracunculifolia has 5 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antifibrotic, Antifungal, Antiulcer, Cytotoxic, Hepatoprotective.

Antifibrotic

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Antifungal

1. Medical mycology

Antiulcer

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Cytotoxic

1. Medical mycology

Hepatoprotective

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Conditions

Baccharis dracunculifolia has 17 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include gastric ulcer, Cardiometabolic Syndrome, Osteoarthritis, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, anal fistula.

Gastric ulcer

1. BioFactors (Oxford, England)
2. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Cardiometabolic syndrome

1. Pharmaceutics

Osteoarthritis

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

1. Medical mycology

Anal fistula

1. Revista do Colegio Brasileiro de Cirurgioes

Arteriosclerosis

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Cardiovascular disease

1. Pharmaceutics

Hepatic steatosis

1. Pharmaceutics

Inflammation

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Liver dysfunction

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Preparations

Baccharis dracunculifolia has 9 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extract, Baccharis dracunculifolia extract, Hexane fractions from hydroalcoholic extracts, Hydroalcoholic extract, hexanic extracts.

Extract

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
2. Pharmaceutics

Baccharis dracunculifolia extract

1. Revista do Colegio Brasileiro de Cirurgioes

Hexane fractions from hydroalcoholic extracts

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Hydroalcoholic extract

1. BioFactors (Oxford, England)

Hexanic extracts

1. Medical mycology

Hydroalcoholic extract of brazilian green propolis

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Hydroethanolic extract

1. BioFactors (Oxford, England)

Methanol extract

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Propolis

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences