sneezweed

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Spreading Sneezeweed
• spreading-sneezeweed

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cotula minima
• Grangea minima
• Dichrocephala minima
• Artemisia minima

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Centipeda minima, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae within the order Asterales. Furthermore, it is a member of the family Asteraceae and is categorized under the genus Centipeda.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning several continents and climatic zones. In Middle Europe, its presence is documented in countries such as Belgium and Germany. Its range extends significantly into West Tropical Africa, specifically within the nation of Liberia. Furthermore, the species can be found in the Western Indian Ocean region. This oceanic distribution includes both the island of Mauritius and the large landmass of Madagascar.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Centipeda minima is characterized by its adaptability to various environments, typically found thriving in habitats such as crop fields, lakes, rivers, and along roadsides. This species occupies a specific altitudinal niche, maintaining an elevational range that spans from a minimum of 800 m AMSL to a maximum of 1400 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1400 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

800 m AMSL

Habitat :

crop fields, lakes, rivers, roadsides

Life history

The life history of Centipeda minima is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire developmental process—from germination to seed production—within a single growing season. In terms of its structural growth habit, it is classified as a therophyte, a life form defined by plants that survive the unfavorable season as ephemeral seeds, rapidly developing and flowering once conditions become suitable. This biological strategy allows the species to exploit transient environmental resources effectively before returning to a dormant seed state.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Centipeda minima is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. It is a terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor as an epiphyte. In terms of its structural habit, the plant is self-supporting rather than being a liana or a vine. It maintains a relatively low stature, with a plant height ranging from 0 m to a maximum of 0.5 m, typically reaching a mean height of approximately 0.1 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.1 m

Plant height min:

0 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Centipeda minima is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation efficiency. The plant exhibits specific morphological dimensions in its foliage, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.7 cm to a mean of 1.25 cm, reaching a maximum of 1.8 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width varies from a minimum of 0.1 cm to a maximum of 0.4 cm. In terms of water storage and structural adaptation, the plant does not exhibit succulence, maintaining standard leaf tissue density. Furthermore, its nitrogen metabolism is characterized by the absence of nitrogen-fixing capabilities, meaning it relies on external soil nitrogen sources rather than symbiotic nitrogen fixation.

Leaf length max:

1.8 cm

Leaf length mean:

1.25 cm

Leaf length min:

0.7 cm

Leaf width max:

0.4 cm

Leaf width min:

0.1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Centipeda minima is characterized by a specialized sexual process, as asexual reproduction is notably absent. The flowering period typically occurs between July and August, driven by biotic pollination syndromes, specifically involving insects. Following successful pollination, the plant produces small, indehiscent fruits classified as achenes. These fruits are quite minute, maintaining a consistent length of approximately 0.1 cm. Within these fruits, the seeds are uniform in size and mass, with a mean seed length of 1.4 mm and a mean seed mass of $2 \times 10^{-5}$ g (ranging from a minimum to a maximum of $2 \times 10^{-5}$ g). The dispersal of these seeds follows an anemochorous syndrome, meaning they are primarily dispersed by the wind to facilitate the colonization of new habitats.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit length max:

0.1 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed length mean:

1.4 mm

Seed mass mean:

2e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Centipeda minima has 22 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include BREVILIN A, 6-O-angeloylplenolin, Arnicolide C, Arnicolide D, Flavonoids.

BREVILIN A

1. Life sciences
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Frontiers in pharmacology
4. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

6-O-angeloylplenolin

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
2. Phytochemistry
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Arnicolide C

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
4. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Arnicolide D

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
4. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
3. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Journal of AOAC International

2beta-(Isobutyryloxy)florilenalin

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Amide

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Fatty acids

1. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry

Glycosides

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Activities

Centipeda minima has 5 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Hepatoprotective, Antibacterial, Antineoplastic, Antioxidant.

Anticancer

1. Chinese medicine
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Hepatoprotective

1. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry
2. Fitoterapia

Antibacterial

1. Phytochemistry

Antineoplastic

1. Life sciences

Antioxidant

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Centipeda minima has 27 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include rhinitis, sinusitis, breast cancer, headache, nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations