buffalo-ear

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• buffalo-ear
• ngai camphor
• ngai camphorshrub
• ngai camphortree
• Sambong

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Placus zollingeriana
• Conyza balsamifera
• Pluchea appendiculata
• Baccharis gratissima
• Blumea balsamifera var. microcephala
• Placus balsamifer
• Baccharis balsamifera
• Blumea zollingeriana
• Blumea excisa
• Blumea grandis
• Placus grandis
• Baccharis salvia
• Pluchea balsamifera
• Blumea densiflora var. excisa
• Blumea appendiculata

Regional and Traditional Names

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 a member of the Asteraceae family. Specifically, its taxonomic classification identifies it under the genus Blumea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution spanning across multiple regions of Asia and Africa. In the African continent, it is specifically documented within the West-Central Tropical Africa region, particularly in the DR Congo. Moving to East Asia, its presence is noted in the territory of Taiwan. Within China, the species is widely distributed across the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan regions. Together, these locations highlight the diverse environments where Blumea balsamifera can be found growing.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Blumea balsamifera is characterized by its ability to thrive across a diverse altitudinal gradient, demonstrating significant adaptability to varying topographical conditions. This species is typically distributed within an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 300 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 1400 m AMSL. Within this vertical distribution, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 800 m AMSL, a zone that likely represents its optimal ecological niche where environmental variables such as temperature, moisture, and atmospheric pressure are most favorable for its growth and development.

Elevational range max:

1400 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

300 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Blumea balsamifera is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. Classified biologically as a chamaephyte, its growth habit is defined by keeping its buds close to the soil surface, which influences its structural development and resilience in its natural habitat. Furthermore, the species maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that it retains its foliage and continues its physiological processes without a seasonal shedding period, providing a consistent presence in its ecosystem.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Blumea balsamifera is characterized by its growth form as a self-supporting subshrub or shrub, reaching a mean height of approximately 3 m, with a maximum potential height of up to 4 m. It is a terrestrial plant that grows independently, lacking any parasitic or epiphytic lifestyle. Structurally, the plant is categorized as non-woody and does not exhibit climbing habits, instead maintaining a self-supporting stature.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Growth form :

subshrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

4 m

Plant height mean:

3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiological profile of Blumea balsamifera is characterized by distinct morphological dimensions of its foliage and specific metabolic constraints. The leaves exhibit a significant range in size, with an average leaf length of 23.5 cm, typically fluctuating between a minimum of 22 cm and a maximum of 25 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width maintains a mean of 9 cm, ranging from a minimum of 8 cm to a maximum of 10 cm. Regarding its nutrient acquisition strategies and symbiotic capabilities, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized physiological mechanisms to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms through symbiotic associations.

Leaf length max:

25 cm

Leaf length mean:

23.5 cm

Leaf length min:

22 cm

Leaf width max:

10 cm

Leaf width mean:

9 cm

Leaf width min:

8 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Blumea balsamifera is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily mediated by insects. This reliance on biotic vectors ensures the transfer of pollen between flowers to facilitate fertilization. Following successful pollination, the plant produces small fruits that exhibit a consistent size profile, with a minimum, mean, and maximum fruit length all measured at approximately 0.1 cm.

Fruit length max:

0.1 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Blumea balsamifera has 3 reported plant parts identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem, root.

Leaf

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
2. Frontiers in plant science
3. International journal of analytical chemistry
4. Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology
5. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Stem

1. Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology
2. Tropical biomedicine
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Root

1. Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology
2. Tropical biomedicine

Chemicals

Blumea balsamifera has 45 reported phytochemicals identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Terpenoids, Borneol, L-Borneol, 3,3',5,7-tetrahydroxy-4'-methoxyflavanone.

Flavonoids

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & research
3. Veterinary world
4. Journal of natural products

Terpenoids

1. Genes
2. Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & research
3. Frontiers in cell and developmental biology
4. Veterinary world

Borneol

1. Genetics and molecular research : GMR
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
3. International journal of molecular sciences

L-Borneol

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

3,3',5,7-tetrahydroxy-4'-methoxyflavanone

1. International journal of analytical chemistry
2. Journal of natural products

D-Limonene

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology

Fatty acids

1. Frontiers in cell and developmental biology
2. Veterinary world

LIGNIN

1. BMC plant biology
2. Frontiers in plant science

luteolin

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

(-)-Borneol

1. Frontiers in plant science

Activities

Blumea balsamifera has 11 reported activities identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antidiabetic, Antioxidant, Analgesic, Antifungal.

Anticancer

1. Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology
2. Veterinary world

Antidiabetic

1. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine
2. Veterinary world

Antioxidant

1. Frontiers in plant science
2. Veterinary world

Analgesic

1. Frontiers in plant science

Antifungal

1. Veterinary world

Antimicrobial

1. Veterinary world

Antitumor

1. Veterinary world

Antiviral

1. Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of natural products

Gastroprotective

1. Veterinary world

Conditions

Blumea balsamifera has 25 reported investigations on conditions identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include hypertension, eczema, Rheumatoid Arthritis, analgesic, antimalarial.

Hypertension

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine
2. Genes
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Eczema

1. Genes
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Rheumatoid arthritis

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Analgesic

1. Frontiers in plant science

Antimalarial

1. Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & research

Antioxidant

1. Frontiers in plant science

Antiviral

1. Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology

Athlete's foot

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Bacterial infection

1. Genes

Cough

1. Veterinary world

Preparations

Blumea balsamifera has 12 reported preparations identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Blumea balsamifera MeOH extract, Blumea balsamifera leaf extracts, MeOH extracts, a flavoring ingredient, a tea.

Blumea balsamifera meoh extract

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Blumea balsamifera leaf extracts

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Meoh extracts

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

A flavoring ingredient

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

A tea

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Essential oil

1. Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology

Extract

1. Journal of natural products

Leaf extracts

1. Frontiers in plant science

Methanol extract

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Root

1. Tropical biomedicine