garden cosmos

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• garden cosmos
• Mexican Aster
• Mexican-aster
• annual cosmos

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Georgina bipinnata
• Bidens lindleyi
• Cosmos tenuifolius
• Cosmea bipinnata
• Dahlia zimapani
• Coreopsis formosa
• Cosmea tenuifolia
• Cosmos bipinnatus var. exaristatus
• Cosmos bipinnatus var. albiflorus
• Cosmos spectabilis
• Cosmos hybridus

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 Asterales, it is a member of the Asteraceae family. Finally, it is classified under the genus Cosmos.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several parts of the European continent. In Northern Europe, it can be found growing in Great Britain, Ireland, and Norway. Moving toward Middle Europe, the species is also documented in Austria. Additionally, the plant's presence extends to Belgium within the same central region. These locations highlight its ability to thrive in various European climates.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cosmos bipinnatus is characterized by its ability to thrive within anthropized areas (Área Antrópicamente), indicating a strong adaptability to human-modified landscapes and disturbed environments. This species occupies a specific altitudinal niche, ranging from a minimum elevation of 1000 m AMSL to a maximum elevation of 2620 m AMSL. This vertical distribution suggests that the plant can tolerate a variety of montane climatic conditions across its ecological gradient.

Elevational range max:

2620 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1000 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Cosmos bipinnatus is characterized by its status as an annual plant, completing its entire reproductive cycle within a single growing season. Functioning as a therophyte, it survives the unfavorable periods of its environment primarily through the production of seeds, which remain dormant until favorable conditions return. This life form is further classified as a therophyte, reflecting its strategy of growing rapidly from seed to maturity and then dying off after seed dispersal, ensuring the continuity of the species through a single, efficient seasonal progression.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Cosmos bipinnatus is characterized by a growth form classified as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. This plant is a terrestrial species, existing as an independent organism without parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. It is a self-supporting plant rather than a climber, vine, or liana. In terms of stature, it exhibits significant variability in plant height, with dimensions ranging from a minimum of 0.4 m to a maximum of 2.5 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 0.7 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.7 m

Plant height min:

0.4 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cosmos bipinnatus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and environmental adaptations. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, relying entirely on soil-based nutrient uptake rather than the digestion of prey. Its foliage is defined by a linear leaf form, with individual leaf lengths typically ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 15 cm.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

linear

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cosmos bipinnatus is primarily driven by sexual processes, as asexual reproduction is absent. The flowering period typically begins in July and continues through October, characterized by orange-colored flowers that vary in size, with a minimum length of 2 cm up to a maximum of 3.5 cm, and a width ranging from 1.2 cm to 2 cm. These flowers rely on biotic pollination syndromes, specifically utilizing insects as the primary pollinators. The reproductive cycle facilitates self-fertilization, leading to the development of fruit in the form of an achene. These fruits are black in color and are indehiscent, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.5 cm to a maximum of 1.8 cm, and a mean length of approximately 0.9 cm. The resulting seeds are quite small, with a mean mass of 0.00867125 g, though they can range from a minimum of 0.0056 g to a maximum of 0.0102 g.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Flower colour :

orange

Flower length max:

3.5 cm

Flower length min:

2 cm

Flower width max:

2 cm

Flower width min:

1.2 cm

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Oct

Fruit colour :

black

Fruit length max:

1.8 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.9 cm

Fruit length min:

0.5 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.0102 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00867125 g

Seed mass min:

0.0056 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Cosmos bipinnatus has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic.

Antidiabetic

1. Fitoterapia