Coleogyne

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

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 Rosales and the family Rosaceae, it is specifically classified under the genus Coleogyne.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across specific regions of the western United States. In the northwestern part of the country, its presence can be noted within the state of Colorado. Moving toward the southwestern United States, it is widely found across the diverse landscapes of Arizona. The species also inhabits various territories within California and Nevada. Finally, its geographical range extends through the desert and mountain environments of Utah.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Coleogyne ramosissima is characterized by its classification as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over many years. As a long-lived woody plant, it follows a developmental trajectory that moves beyond the single-season growth patterns of annuals or the two-year cycles of biennials, instead establishing a stable presence within its ecosystem. This perennial nature enables the plant to undergo seasonal cycles of growth and dormancy, gradually building biomass and structural complexity over time to withstand the fluctuations of its habitat.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Coleogyne ramosissima is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically presenting as a shrub. It typically reaches an average plant height of approximately 1.8 m. As a terrestrial species, it is neither aquatic nor semiaquatic, and it does not function as an epiphyte. In terms of structural support, the plant is self-supporting rather than acting as a liana or vine, and it grows as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

1.8 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Coleogyne ramosissima is characterized by a metabolic framework governed by the C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates how the plant captures and utilizes carbon dioxide for energy production. As a C3 plant, the initial fixation of atmospheric CO2 occurs via the enzyme RuBisCO, leading to the direct formation of a three-carbon compound, 3-phosphoglycerate, within the mesophyll cells. This pathway is fundamental to its carbon assimilation process, though it necessitates careful physiological regulation to manage photorespiration, particularly when faced with the environmental stressors typical of its habitat. The efficiency of this C3 mechanism influences the plant's water-use efficiency and overall carbon sequestration rates, forming the basis of its metabolic responses to light intensity and temperature fluctuations.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

Reproduction in Coleogyne ramosissima involves the production of seeds that exhibit highly consistent physical characteristics. The seed mass of this species is remarkably uniform, with a calculated mean seed mass of 0.020805 g. This high degree of stability is further evidenced by the minimal variance between the recorded extremes, as both the maximum and minimum seed mass values are documented at 0.02078 g. Such precise measurements indicate a standardized reproductive output regarding the individual weight of the seeds produced by the plant.

Seed mass max:

0.02078 g

Seed mass mean:

0.020805 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Coleogyne ramosissima has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Narcissin.

Narcissin

1. Cancer letters