Crepis lignea

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sources: Wikidata

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across parts of East and Southeast Asia. Within China, it can be found growing in the South-Central and Southeast regions. Its range extends further into the Indo-China peninsula, where it is documented in Laos. Additionally, the species is present in the mountainous or forested areas of Thailand. Finally, its habitat includes various locations throughout Vietnam.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Crepis lignea is defined by its specialized adaptation to high-altitude environments, specifically occurring within a narrow altitudinal band. This plant thrives in montane or alpine zones, maintaining a strictly delimited elevational range that reflects its preference for specific climatic conditions found at great heights. Its distribution is concentrated between a minimum elevation of 2580 m AMSL and a maximum of 2700 m AMSL, resulting in a relatively tight ecological niche. The mean elevation for the species is recorded at 2640 m AMSL, indicating that its optimal growing conditions are centered within this high-elevation belt, where it must contend with the unique physiological demands of such an environment.

Elevational range max:

2700 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2640 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

2580 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Crepis lignea is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a perennial, it avoids the complete mortality associated with annual or biennial life cycles, instead focusing on long-term survival and the establishment of robust root systems that support repeated reproductive efforts over time. This sustained life cycle enables the plant to better adapt to its specific ecological niche, utilizing multiple seasons to accumulate resources and ensure successful seed production and dispersal.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Crepis lignea is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically categorized as a forb. This plant is self-supporting and does not exhibit climbing tendencies. In terms of stature, it is a relatively low-growing species with a plant height that varies from a minimum of 0.15 m to a maximum of 0.4 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 0.275 m.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

herb

Plant height max:

0.4 m

Plant height mean:

0.275 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Crepis lignea is characterized by specific vegetative development patterns, most notably reflected in its leaf morphology and growth dynamics. The plant exhibits a structured leaf architecture where the leaf length maintains a mean value of 3 cm, a metric that influences its photosynthetic surface area and overall metabolic efficiency. This specific dimension suggests a compact growth habit, likely an adaptation to optimize resource acquisition within its ecological niche. The physiological processes governing cell elongation and expansion are finely tuned to maintain this consistent leaf size, ensuring that the plant can balance transpiration rates with carbon fixation. This controlled leaf development plays a critical role in the plant's energy budget, dictating the rate of nutrient transport and the structural integrity of its foliage throughout its life cycle.

Leaf length mean:

3 cm

Reproduction

Reproduction in Crepis lignea is characterized by the development of specialized fruit structures that ensure the dispersal and survival of the next generation. The plant produces fruits that exhibit a highly consistent morphology, with all recorded measurements indicating a uniform size. Specifically, the fruit length maintains a constant value across its entire range, with a minimum, mean, and maximum length all measured at exactly 0.5 cm. This precise standardization in fruit dimensions suggests a highly regulated reproductive process aimed at optimizing the efficiency of seed distribution.

Fruit length max:

0.5 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Crepis lignea has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. Bioorganic chemistry

Conditions

Crepis lignea has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include ulcerative colitis.

Ulcerative colitis

1. Bioorganic chemistry

Preparations

Crepis lignea has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include water-soluble α-D-glucan.

Water-soluble α-d-glucan

1. Bioorganic chemistry