Malay Blumea

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Malay blumea
• Sheyalmutra

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Placus lacerus
• Conyza lacera

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 classified under the family Asteraceae. Specifically, Blumea lacerata is identified as a member of the genus Blumea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning several distinct regions across the African continent and its surrounding islands. Within Macaronesia, its presence is noted in the archipelago of Cape Verde. Moving to West-Central Tropical Africa, the species can be found in both the Central African Republic and Cameroon. Its range extends into Northeast Tropical Africa, where it inhabits the territory of Chad. Finally, the distribution reaches further east to include the nation of Djibouti.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Blumea lacera is characterized by its preference for dense secondary shrublands and rudeeral vegetation, where it thrives in disturbed or transitional landscapes. It occupies a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 900 m AMSL. Across its distribution, the species maintains a mean elevation of approximately 460 m AMSL, indicating a strong adaptation to lowland and mid-elevation environments.

Elevational range max:

900 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

460 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

10 m AMSL

Habitat :

dense secondary shrub and ruderal vegetation

Life history

The life history of Blumea lacera is characterized by its classification as an annual species, meaning it completes its entire biological cycle—from germination to seed production—within a single growing season. In terms of its structural growth and survival strategy, the plant is categorized as a therophyte, a life form that survives unfavorable seasons primarily through highly resistant seeds rather than through persistent vegetative organs. This lifecycle ensures that the plant can rapidly colonize available habitats during favorable conditions before returning to a dormant seed state to endure environmental stress.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Blumea lacera is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. This self-supporting plant reaches a maximum height of approximately 1 meter, with a mean height of 1 meter and a minimum height of 0.3 meters. As a terrestrial species, it is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte, growing independently in its environment without acting as a parasite. Its physical structure is defined by its non-woody nature and its status as a self-supporting herb rather than a climber or liana.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

1 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Blumea lacera is characterized by specific morphological dimensions of its foliage and its metabolic approach to nutrient acquisition. The leaves exhibit significant variability in size, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 15 cm, maintaining an average length of approximately 11 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 1.2 cm and a maximum of 5.4 cm, resulting in a mean width of 4.5 cm. Regarding its nitrogen metabolism, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, indicating that it relies on the uptake of nitrogenous compounds directly from the soil through its root system rather than through symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length mean:

11 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf width max:

5.4 cm

Leaf width mean:

4.5 cm

Leaf width min:

1.2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Blumea lacera is driven by biotic pollination syndromes, primarily relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. The plant produces small fruits classified as achenes, which exhibit an indehiscent characteristic, meaning they do not spontaneously split open at maturity to release seeds. These fruits are quite diminutive in size, with a mean length of 0.15 cm, ranging from a minimum of 0.1 cm to a maximum of 0.2 cm.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Fruit length max:

0.2 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.15 cm

Fruit length min:

0.1 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Blumea lacera has 1 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Food science & nutrition
2. Journal of pharmacy & pharmaceutical sciences : a publication of the Canadian Society for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Societe canadienne des sciences pharmaceutiques
3. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Chemicals

Blumea lacera has 12 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, 5-Hydroxy-3,6,7,3',4'-pentamethoxyflavone, Cuminol, GAMMA-SITOSTEROL, Khasianine.

Flavonoids

1. Food science & nutrition
2. Chemistry & biodiversity

5-Hydroxy-3,6,7,3',4'-pentamethoxyflavone

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Cuminol

1. Food science & nutrition

GAMMA-SITOSTEROL

1. Food science & nutrition

Khasianine

1. Journal of pharmacy & pharmaceutical sciences : a publication of the Canadian Society for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Societe canadienne des sciences pharmaceutiques

Stigmast-5-en-3.beta.-ol

1. Food science & nutrition

THYMOL

1. Food science & nutrition

Tomatidine HCl

1. Journal of pharmacy & pharmaceutical sciences : a publication of the Canadian Society for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Societe canadienne des sciences pharmaceutiques

kaempferol

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

quercetin

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Activities

Blumea lacera has 3 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidepressant, Antiviral, Anxiolytic.

Antidepressant

1. Food science & nutrition

Antiviral

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Anxiolytic

1. Food science & nutrition

Conditions

Blumea lacera has 11 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Aging, Alzheimer's disease, HSV-1, HSV-2, Obesity.

Aging

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Alzheimer's disease

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Hsv-1

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Hsv-2

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Obesity

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Anxiety

1. Food science & nutrition

Breast cancer

1. Journal of pharmacy & pharmaceutical sciences : a publication of the Canadian Society for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Societe canadienne des sciences pharmaceutiques

Depression

1. Food science & nutrition

Gastric ulcer

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Neurological disorders

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Preparations

Blumea lacera has 6 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Extracts, Methanol Extract, hot water (HW) extract, methanol extract of Blumea lacera (MEBLL), methanol leaf extract (Me-BLL).

Extracts

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Methanol extract

1. Journal of pharmacy & pharmaceutical sciences : a publication of the Canadian Society for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Societe canadienne des sciences pharmaceutiques

Hot water (hw) extract

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Methanol extract of blumea lacera (mebll)

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Methanol leaf extract (me-bll)

1. Food science & nutrition

Methanolic extract

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM