Elephant-Ears

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Elephant-Ears
• Siberian-tea
• Elephant's-ears
• Heart-leaved Elephant's-ears
• Heartleaf Bergenia
• Siberian Tea
• Elephant's ears

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Megasea crassifolia
• Geryonia crassifolia
• Saxifraga crassifolia

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 class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Saxifragales and the family Saxifragaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Bergenia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several regions of Europe. In Northern Europe, its presence can be documented in both Great Britain and Ireland. Moving into Middle Europe, the species is found within the territories of Germany and Switzerland. Additionally, its range extends to the Czechia-Slovakia region. These diverse locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in varied European landscapes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Bergenia crassifolia is characterized by its ability to thrive in diverse, high-altitude environments, primarily occupying moist forest ecosystems and rugged mountain terrains. It is frequently found growing in stony places and along the banks of rivers, where the soil remains consistently damp and enriched by organic matter. This preference for riparian zones and rocky substrates suggests an adaptation to areas with high moisture availability and well-drained, mineral-rich ground. By inhabiting these varied niches—from the shaded understory of montane forests to the exposed, rocky margins of watercourses—the species demonstrates a resilient ecological strategy suited to the cool, humid microclimates typical of its natural mountain habitats.

Habitat :

forest, mountains, rivers, stony places

Life history

The life history of Bergenia crassifolia is characterized by its status as a perennial herb, allowing it to persist in its habitat through multiple growing seasons. As a long-lived plant, it establishes a robust presence in its natural environment, often forming dense colonies through its creeping rhizomatous growth habit. This perennial nature enables the plant to endure seasonal fluctuations, storing energy within its fleshy, thickened rhizomes to support regrowth and reproductive efforts in subsequent years. Throughout its life cycle, the plant undergoes periodic vegetative expansion and flowering phases, contributing to its stability and dominance within its ecological niche.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Bergenia crassifolia is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, exhibiting a self-supporting structure that does not function as a climber or liana. This independent, non-parasitic plant thrives in terrestrial environments, as it is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte. It maintains a relatively low stature, with a plant height ranging from a minimum of 0.06 m to a maximum of 0.6 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.6 m

Plant height min:

0.06 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Bergenia crassifolia is characterized by a metabolic framework centered on the C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and gas exchange mechanisms. As a C3 plant, it utilizes the Calvin cycle to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide directly through the enzyme RuBisCO, a process that is highly efficient in the cool, moist, and shaded high-altitude environments where the species typically thrives. This metabolic strategy influences its transpiration rates and water-use efficiency, as the plant relies on relatively open stomata to facilitate CO2 uptake, making it sensitive to fluctuations in ambient moisture and temperature. Furthermore, its physiological adaptations are closely linked to its ability to manage nutrient uptake and water storage within its thick, fleshy leaves, allowing it to maintain metabolic stability and photosynthetic continuity even under the varying environmental stresses found in its native montane habitats.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Bergenia crassifolia is characterized by its sexual reproductive mechanism, featuring bisexual flowers that contain both male and female reproductive organs. The flowering period for this species is remarkably flexible and expansive, with the flowering season typically beginning in December and extending through various months, eventually concluding around July; however, the specific timing can be variable depending on environmental conditions.

Flowering time :

Dec

Flowering time :

Jul

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Bergenia crassifolia 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 rhizome.

Rhizome

1. Biomolecules

Chemicals

Bergenia crassifolia has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include bergenin, Flavonoids, Tannins, arbutin, hydroquinone.

bergenin

1. Journal of molecular modeling
2. Scientific reports
3. Biomolecules
4. Ceska a Slovenska farmacie : casopis Ceske farmaceuticke spolecnosti a Slovenske farmaceuticke spolecnosti

Flavonoids

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Tannins

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

arbutin

1. Ceska a Slovenska farmacie : casopis Ceske farmaceuticke spolecnosti a Slovenske farmaceuticke spolecnosti

hydroquinone

1. Ceska a Slovenska farmacie : casopis Ceske farmaceuticke spolecnosti a Slovenske farmaceuticke spolecnosti

Activities

Bergenia crassifolia has 20 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective, Adaptogenic, Antiarrhythmic, Antiarthritic.

Antioxidant

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Biomolecules

Hepatoprotective

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Biomolecules

Adaptogenic

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Antiarrhythmic

1. Biomolecules

Antiarthritic

1. Biomolecules

Antibacterial

1. Biomolecules

Anticancer

1. Biomolecules

Antifungal

1. Biomolecules

Antihypertensive

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Antiinflammatory

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Bergenia crassifolia has 6 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include bleeding, cancer, cervical cancer, cough, immunity.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations