Coincya tournefortii

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Brassica barrelieri subsp. tournefortii
• Brassica sisymbrioides
• Erucastrum tournefortii
• Brassica barrelieri subsp. tournefortii
• Brassica stocksii
• Brassica tournefortii
• Brassica amblyorhyncha
• Sinapis caspica
• Sisymbrium setosum
• Eruca erecta
• Erucastrum minutiflorum
• Brassica tournefortii var. dasycarpa
• Brassica tournefortii f. dentata
• Brassica tournefortii var. sisymbrioides

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Brassicales and the family Brassicaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Coincya.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several European regions. In Northern Europe, it can be found specifically within Great Britain. Its presence extends into Middle Europe, where it inhabits parts of Germany. The species is also widely distributed throughout Southwestern Europe, including the island of Corse and mainland France. Additionally, its range reaches further south into the coastal areas of Portugal.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cynoglossum tournefortii is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution, ranging from low-lying areas at 50 m AMSL to high-altitude environments reaching a maximum of 900 m AMSL, though it maintains a significantly higher mean elevation of approximately 2600 m AMSL. This species adapts to diverse environmental conditions across its vast vertical range, though specific habitat classifications remain under investigation.

Elevational range max:

900 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

50 m AMSL

Habitat :

(?)

Life history

The life history of Cynoglossum tournefortii is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire developmental process—from germination and vegetative growth to flowering and seed production—within a single growing season. As a therophyte, its life form is defined by its strategy of surviving unfavorable environmental periods as ephemeral seeds, which remain dormant in the soil until conditions become favorable for growth. This strategy allows the plant to rapidly exploit seasonal resources, ensuring that it reaches reproductive maturity and disperses its progeny before the onset of drought or seasonal shifts that would otherwise terminate its active life stage.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Cynoglossum tournefortii (noted as Coincya tournefortii) is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not exhibit climbing or parasitic behaviors, functioning as an independent organism. The plant is terrestrial in nature, occupying neither aquatic nor epiphytic niches. In terms of stature, it is a relatively small species, with a plant height ranging from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 1 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiological profile of Cynoglossum tournefortii is characterized by specific morphological dimensions that govern its photosynthetic capacity and surface area dynamics. The leaf structure exhibits a distinct longitudinal development, reaching a maximum leaf length of 12.5 cm, which facilitates efficient light interception within its ecological niche. The lateral expansion of the foliage is remarkably consistent, as evidenced by a uniform leaf width that maintains a constant measurement of 4 cm, with both the mean and minimum values aligning at this exact width. This lack of variance in width suggests a highly stabilized growth pattern in the leaf blade, ensuring a predictable surface area for gas exchange and transpiration processes throughout its developmental stages.

Leaf length max:

12.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

4 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cynoglossum tournefortii is characterized by a flowering period that typically begins in April and concludes in March, showing a high degree of variability across different months. The plant produces dry, dehiscent fruits specifically categorized as a siliqua, which maintains an average length of 4.5 cm and an average width of 0.2 cm. The seeds produced within these fruits are quite small, with a mean mass of approximately 0.001338733 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.00092 g to a maximum of 0.0017 g) and a consistent mean width of 1.3 mm. Furthermore, the seeds exhibit a uniform volume, with both the minimum, maximum, and mean values recorded at 1.2 mm³. The dispersal of these seeds follows an unspecialized syndrome, suggesting that they rely on various non-specific environmental or biological vectors for distribution.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Mar

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length mean:

4.5 cm

Fruit type :

siliqua

Fruit width mean:

0.2 cm

Seed mass max:

0.0017 g

Seed mass mean:

0.001338733 g

Seed mass min:

0.00092 g

Seed volume max:

1.2 mm³

Seed width mean:

1.3 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Coincya tournefortii has 3 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, root, stem.

Leaf

1. Journal of food science

Root

1. Journal of food science

Stem

1. Journal of food science

Chemicals

Coincya tournefortii has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 4-Hydroxy-3-propylbenzoic acid methyl ester, 5,7-Dihydroxy-4-propylcoumarin, Iberin, Iberin nitrile, Icariin.

4-Hydroxy-3-propylbenzoic acid methyl ester

1. Journal of food science

5,7-Dihydroxy-4-propylcoumarin

1. Journal of food science

Iberin

1. Journal of food science

Iberin nitrile

1. Journal of food science

Icariin

1. Journal of food science

Isothiocyanates

1. Journal of food science

Phenoxodiol

1. Journal of food science

polyphenols

1. Journal of food science

Activities

Coincya tournefortii has 1 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.

Antioxidant

1. Journal of food science