shrubby hare's ear

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Shrubby Hare's-Ear

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Tenoria fruticosa
• Bupleurum fruticosum subsp. insulare
• Bupleurum fruticosum var. insulare
• Buprestis fruticosa
• Bupleurum terminale

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 Apiales, it is classified under the family Apiaceae. Finally, it is specifically identified by the genus Bupleurum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a varied geographical distribution across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence can be documented within Great Britain. Moving toward Middle Europe, the species is found growing in Germany. Its range extends into Southwestern Europe, where it inhabits the island of Corse. Finally, the plant is also established in the Southwestern European territories of France and Portugal.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Bupleurum fruticosum is characterized by its ability to colonize disturbed environments, frequently establishing itself along roadsides where soil compaction and human interference create open niches. This preference for roadside habitats suggests a resilient nature capable of enduring the fluctuating moisture levels and varied soil compositions typical of transit corridors. By thriving in these anthropogenic margins, the species occupies transitional zones that often provide increased light availability and reduced competition from more stable forest or meadow communities.

Habitat :

roadsides

Life history

The life history of Bupleurum fruticosum is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a stable presence within its habitat. In terms of its structural development and survival strategy, this species is classified as a phanerophyte, meaning its regenerative buds are located well above the ground level, contributing to its distinctive growth habit. This combination of a long-lived lifecycle and a phanerophytic life form enables the plant to maintain consistent vegetative structures and effectively navigate its ecological niche over time.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Bupleurum fruticosum is characterized by its growth form as a shrub, exhibiting a structure that falls under the category of woody-based vegetation despite certain non-woody aspects in its development. It is a terrestrial species, typically found in land-based habitats rather than aquatic or semiaquatic environments. The plant reaches a maximum height of approximately 3 meters, establishing a robust presence in its ecosystem. Although its classification involves non-woody traits in specific morphological assessments, its overall habit is defined as a shrub, distinguishing it from herbaceous or graminoid growth forms.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Plant height max:

3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Bupleurum fruticosum is characterized by a metabolic framework consistent with the C3 photosynthetic pathway, meaning it utilizes the Calvin cycle to fix carbon dioxide directly through the enzyme RuBisCO without the specialized spatial or temporal separation seen in C4 or CAM plants. As a perennial herb, its physiological processes are closely tied to seasonal environmental cues, regulating transpiration rates and stomatal conductance to balance gas exchange with water conservation. The plant's energy acquisition relies on the efficient capture of light energy via chlorophyll pigments within its leaf tissues, driving the synthesis of carbohydrates that fuel its growth and the production of secondary metabolites. These metabolic pathways support the plant's structural integrity and its ability to respond to varying light intensities and temperature fluctuations within its natural habitat.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Bupleurum fruticosum is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering window and the production of minute seeds. The flowering period typically commences in June and continues through July, marking the peak interval for its reproductive activity. Following pollination, the plant produces seeds that exhibit slight variations in weight; the seed mass ranges from a minimum of 0.0039 g to a maximum of 0.00546 g, with a recorded mean seed mass of 0.00468 g.

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Jul

Seed mass max:

0.00546 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00468 g

Seed mass min:

0.0039 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Bupleurum fruticosum has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. Journal of natural products
2. Phytochemistry

Chemicals

Bupleurum fruticosum has 11 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 5,7-Dihydroxy-6-methoxy-8-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)coumarin, 7-(2-hydroxy-3-methyl-3-butenyloxy)-6-methoxycoumarin, Aesculetin, Buddlejasaponin IV, CAPENSIN.

5,7-Dihydroxy-6-methoxy-8-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)coumarin

1. Phytochemistry

7-(2-hydroxy-3-methyl-3-butenyloxy)-6-methoxycoumarin

1. Phytochemistry

Aesculetin

1. Phytochemistry

Buddlejasaponin IV

1. Planta medica

CAPENSIN

1. Phytochemistry

Fraxetin

1. Phytochemistry

Malonylbuddlejasaponin IV

1. Planta medica

PRENYLETIN

1. Phytochemistry

Scoparone

1. Phytochemistry

TNF alpha

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Bupleurum fruticosum has 1 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Hepatoprotective.

Hepatoprotective

1. Planta medica

Conditions

Bupleurum fruticosum has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include TNF-alpha.

Tnf-alpha

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Bupleurum fruticosum has 2 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include MeOH extract, roots.

Meoh extract

1. Journal of natural products

Roots

1. Phytochemistry