Big-flowered Blumea

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Big-flowered Blumea

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Blumea riparia var. megacephala

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 and the genus Blumea. Specifically, it is identified by the species name Blumea megacephala.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several key regions in Asia. In China, it is primarily found throughout the South-Central and Southeast territories. Its presence extends into Eastern Asia, specifically within the Nansei-shoto islands and Taiwan. Additionally, the species is documented within the Indian Subcontinent, particularly in the Assam region. These varied locations highlight its broad ecological range across different Asian landscapes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Blumea megacephala is characterized by its preference for specific montane environments, where it thrives within a distinct altitudinal niche. This species is typically found in high-altitude habitats, occupying a specialized elevational range that is strictly constrained between 1300 m AMSL and 1500 m AMSL. This narrow vertical distribution suggests that the plant is adapted to the particular climatic conditions, such as temperature fluctuations, moisture availability, and atmospheric pressure, found within these specific sub-alpine or montane zones. The stability of its ecological presence is closely tied to these elevation-dependent factors, making it a specialized component of the mid-to-high elevation flora in its native mountain ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1300 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Blumea megacephalous is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle within a single year. In terms of its structural growth patterns and ecological positioning, the species exhibits distinct life forms categorized as both a phanerophyte and a nanophanerophyte. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its conducting parts well above the ground, typically through woody or semi-woody structures, while its nanophanerophytic trait indicates that its branches are relatively short, often staying close to the ground surface but remaining visible above the soil layer. This combination of a long-term perennial lifecycle and specific height-based life forms enables the plant to establish a stable presence within its natural habitat.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Blumea megacephala is characterized by its growth habit as an obligatory climber, utilizing surrounding structures for support to ascend. The plant exhibits variable woodiness, where the structural integrity of the stems can range from non-woody to woody depending on the age and environmental conditions of the specimen. Its vegetative structure typically features elongated stems that facilitate its climbing nature, often supporting a dense arrangement of leaves that are characteristic of the species.

Climber :

obligatory

Woodiness :

variable

Physiology

The physiological morphology of the leaves in Blumea megacephaloides is characterized by significant dimensional variability, reflecting its adaptive growth patterns. The leaf length exhibits a range of development, with a minimum measurement of 7 cm, a mean length of 8.5 cm, and reaching a maximum of 10 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width shows a structured breadth, starting from a minimum of 2.5 cm and expanding to a maximum width of 4 cm. These metrics indicate a robust foliar structure designed to optimize photosynthetic surface area within its environmental niche.

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length mean:

8.5 cm

Leaf length min:

7 cm

Leaf width max:

4 cm

Leaf width min:

2.5 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Blumea megacephala is centered around the production of specialized fruit structures that facilitate the dispersal of its genetic material. The fruits produced by this species are characterized by extreme uniformity in their dimensions, exhibiting a consistent size across observed specimens. Specifically, the fruit length remains constant with a minimum, mean, and maximum value of 0.15 cm. This precise measurement of 0.15 cm for the fruit length indicates a highly standardized reproductive output, ensuring that the dispersal mechanism operates within a very specific physical scale to optimize the plant's propagation within its natural habitat.

Fruit length max:

0.15 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Blumea megacephala has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CHLOROGENIC ACID, caffeic acid, protocatechuic acid.

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

caffeic acid

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

protocatechuic acid

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica