Dogís ears

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• pig's-ears
• Pig Ears
• cotyledon
• pig's ear
• pig's ears
• pigs ears
• round-leafed navel-wort

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Sedum orbiculatum

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. It is classified within the order Saxifragales and the family Crasulaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Cotyledon.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across the Mediterranean region, spanning both Europe and Africa. Within Southwestern Europe, it can be found growing in the Balearic Islands. Its presence extends to the mainland territories of France, Portugal, and Spain. Furthermore, the species reaches into Northern Africa, specifically inhabiting Tunisia. Together, these locations define its distinct geographical range.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cotyledon orbiculata is characterized by its ability to thrive across a diverse range of altitudinal gradients and environmental settings. This species occupies a broad elevational range, beginning at low-lying areas as low as 50 m AMSL and extending up to significant heights of 3000 m AMSL. In terms of specific landscape positioning, its habitat frequently includes coastal regions, where it must adapt to the unique climatic influences of maritime environments. This wide vertical distribution allows the plant to encounter various microclimates, ranging from sea-level coastal zones to high-altitude montane ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

50 m AMSL

Habitat :

Coastal

Life history

The life history of Cotyledon orbiculata is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. As a long-lived succulent, it maintains a continuous existence rather than completing its cycle within a single year or two. This perennial nature enables the plant to develop significant fleshy, orbicular leaves that serve as water reservoirs, facilitating survival through varying climatic conditions. Throughout its lifespan, the plant undergoes regular cycles of vegetative growth and periodic flowering, contributing to its long-term establishment in its natural habitats.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cotyledon orbiculata is characterized by its growth as a woody shrub that maintains a self-supporting structure. As an independent plant, it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, remaining strictly terrestrial in its habitat. The plant typically reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 0.15 m to a maximum of 1.5 m. Its growth form is consistently described as a shrub, and it lacks any climbing or vine-like tendencies, relying instead on its woody stems to remain self-supporting.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cotyledon orbiculata is characterized by specialized adaptations for water conservation and efficient resource management in arid environments. It utilizes the Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) photosynthetic pathway, an adaptation that allows the plant to fix carbon dioxide at night to minimize transpirational water loss during the heat of the day. This metabolic strategy is closely integrated with its high degree of succulence, where specialized parenchymatous tissues serve as reservoirs for water storage. The plant's foliage is morphologically optimized for this storage, featuring obovate-shaped leaves that are arranged in an opposite pattern along the stem. These leaves exhibit significant morphological plasticity in size, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 12 cm, and widths varying from 1 cm to a mean and maximum of 9 cm. This structural configuration supports the plant's physiological ability to maintain hydration and metabolic activity under fluctuating environmental stressors.

Leaf arrangement :

opposite

Leaf form :

obovate

Leaf length max:

12 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf width mean:

9 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

CAM

Succulence :

yes

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cotyledon orbiculata is characterized by a flowering period that typically begins in December and concludes in March, though the timing can be variable throughout the year. The plant produces distinct orange flowers that vary in size, with a length ranging from 1.5 cm to 3 cm and a width between 0.6 cm and 1 cm. Following pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of a follicle, which reaches an average length of 2.5 cm. The seeds produced are quite small, maintaining a consistent length of approximately 0.7 mm. In terms of mass, the seeds are extremely lightweight, with a mean mass of 1.75e-05 g, ranging from a minimum of 1e-05 g to a maximum of 6e-05 g. Dispersal of these seeds is achieved through an anemochorous syndrome, meaning they are primarily dispersed by the wind.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flower colour :

orange

Flower length max:

3 cm

Flower length min:

1.5 cm

Flower width max:

1 cm

Flower width min:

0.6 cm

Flowering time :

Dec

Flowering time :

Mar

Fruit length mean:

2.5 cm

Fruit type :

follicle

Seed length mean:

0.7 mm

Seed mass max:

6e-05 g

Seed mass mean:

1.75e-05 g

Seed mass min:

1e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Cotyledon orbiculata has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Silver nanoparticles.

Silver nanoparticles

1. Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Cotyledon orbiculata has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.

Antimicrobial

1. Current issues in molecular biology
2. Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Conditions

Cotyledon orbiculata has 8 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include inflammation, wounds, abscesses, acne, boils.

Inflammation

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)

Wounds

1. International journal of molecular sciences
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Abscesses

1. Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)

Acne

1. Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)

Boils

1. Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)

Cancer

1. Frontiers in oncology

Colon cancer

1. Frontiers in oncology

Wound healing

1. Current issues in molecular biology

Preparations

Cotyledon orbiculata has 4 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Aqueous Extract, crude extract, extract, water extract.

Aqueous extract

1. International journal of molecular sciences
2. Current issues in molecular biology
3. Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)

Crude extract

1. Frontiers in oncology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Extract

1. Frontiers in oncology
2. Current issues in molecular biology

Water extract

1. International journal of molecular sciences