Bassia indica

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Kochia scoparia subsp. indica
• Bassia joppensis
• Kochia griffithii
• Kochia indica

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Caryophyllales. Finally, it is a member of the family Amaranthaceae and is identified by the genus Bassia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across the Mediterranean region. In Southwestern Europe, its presence is noted within the borders of Spain. The species also extends into Northern Africa, where it can be found in Algeria. Furthermore, its range covers several other North African nations, including Egypt and Libya. Finally, the distribution reaches as far west as Morocco.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Bassia indica is defined by its adaptation to specific altitudinal gradients within its native habitat. This species thrives within a distinct elevational range, typically occurring at altitudes starting from a minimum of 500 m AMSL and extending up to a maximum of 1340 m AMSL. This vertical distribution suggests an ability to inhabit diverse ecological niches ranging from lower subtropical foothills to mid-elevation montane environments. By occupying this specific range, the plant interacts with varying temperature regimes and moisture availability characteristic of these shifting elevations, which dictates its distribution patterns across the landscape.

Elevational range max:

1340 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

500 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Bassia indica is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire developmental process from germination to seed production within a single growing season. In terms of its growth habit and structural classification, it is categorized as a therophyte, a life form defined by plants that survive unfavorable seasons as ephemeral seeds rather than through specialized underground organs or woody structures. This classification as a therophyte is consistent across its morphological assessment, establishing it as a plant that relies on rapid maturation and high seed output to maintain its presence in its ecological niche.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Bassia indica is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and a small-statured forb, reaching a maximum plant height of 0.25 m. This species is primarily terrestrial in its habitat, lacking aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies, and it functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. Structurally, the plant is self-supporting rather than a climber, maintaining an upright or spreading herbaceous habit throughout its life cycle.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.25 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Bassia indica is characterized by a highly efficient metabolic framework designed to optimize carbon fixation under varying environmental conditions. A defining physiological trait of this species is its photosynthetic pathway, which is classified as C4. This specialized pathway allows the plant to concentrate carbon dioxide around the enzyme Rubisco, significantly reducing photorespiration and enhancing water-use efficiency compared to C3 plants. By utilizing a spatial separation between initial carbon fixation in mesophyll cells and the Calvin cycle in bundle sheath cells, Bassia indica can maintain high rates of photosynthesis even in high-temperature or arid environments. This C4 mechanism facilitates rapid biomass production and ensures robust metabolic activity by minimizing the energy loss typically associated with the oxygenase activity of Rubisco.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C4

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Bassia indica has 30 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 3,4-Di-O-Caffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-Di-O-galloyl-4-O-digalloylquinic acid, 6,7-DIHYDROXYCOUMARIN, Alcohols, Alkanes.

3,4-Di-O-Caffeoylquinic acid

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

3,5-Di-O-galloyl-4-O-digalloylquinic acid

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

6,7-DIHYDROXYCOUMARIN

1. Fitoterapia

Alcohols

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Alkanes

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Betavulgaroside I

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Betavulgaroside II

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Betavulgaroside IV

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Betavulgaroside X

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Chikusetsusaponin IV

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Activities

Bassia indica has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cardioprotective.

Cardioprotective

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Bassia indica has 6 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Myocardial infarction, Trichinella spiralis, Trichinellosis, cardiac disorders, coronary heart disease.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations