An herbal herb.

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Little ironweed

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Conyza cinerea
• Cacalia cinerea
• Vernonia cinerea
• Seneciodes cinereum
• Serratula cinerea

Regional and Traditional Names

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 situated in the order Asterales and the family Asteraceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is defined by the genus Cyanthillium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning several distinct climatic regions. In Middle Europe, its presence is specifically noted in Germany. Moving toward the Atlantic, it can be found within the Macronesian archipelago of Cape Verde. The species also extends into West Tropical Africa, where it inhabits the territories of Benin and Burkina. Furthermore, its range reaches the coastal landscapes of Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cyanthillium cineureum is characterized by its significant adaptability to diverse environmental conditions, particularly within human-modified landscapes. This species is predominantly found in anthropogenic habitats (Área Antrópica), where it thrives in disturbed soils and environments shaped by human activity. Its vertical distribution is quite broad, spanning a vast elevational gradient that begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends up to a maximum altitude of 1800 m AMSL. This wide altitudinal range indicates a high level of ecological plasticity, allowing the plant to colonize various thermal and atmospheric niches across different topographical zones.

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Cyanthillium cinereum is characterized by its status as an annual plant, completing its entire developmental cycle from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, it avoids unfavorable environmental conditions by surviving as a seed, ensuring that the vegetative structure does not persist through periods of dormancy or stress. This life form strategy allows the plant to rapidly colonize disturbed habitats and open spaces, utilizing its annual lifecycle to maximize reproductive output before the onset of seasonal changes.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Cyanthillium cinereum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. It is a terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte. The plant exhibits an ascending shoot orientation and is self-supporting rather than being a liana or vine. In terms of stature, its height is variable, ranging from a minimum of 0 m to a maximum of 1.35 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.35 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.35 m

Plant height mean:

0.35 m

Plant height min:

0 m

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cyanthillium cinereum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant's vegetative structure features leaves that vary in dimensions, with a minimum leaf length of 2 cm and a maximum length of 7 cm, while the leaf width ranges from a minimum of 0.5 cm to a maximum of 2.5 cm. Morphologically, the species does not exhibit succulence, maintaining standard leaf tissue hydration rather than specialized water-storage cells. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on the uptake of available nitrogen from the surrounding soil to support its growth and metabolic requirements.

Leaf length max:

7 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf width max:

2.5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cyanthillium cinereum is characterized by the production of small, violet-colored flowers that facilitate the development of its specialized fruit. The plant produces an achene, which is a type of indehiscent fruit, meaning it does not spontaneously split open at maturity to release its contents. These fruits are notably small, with a maximum length of approximately 0.15 cm. The seeds contained within are minute, exhibiting a mean mass of 0.000207775 g, with individual seed masses ranging from a minimum of 0.00008 g to a maximum of 0.00058 g. For the distribution of its progeny, the species utilizes an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on wind currents to transport the lightweight seeds to new locations.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flower colour :

violet

Fruit length max:

0.15 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Seed mass max:

0.00058 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000207775 g

Seed mass min:

8e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cyanthillium cinereum has 2 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.

Leaf

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Central nervous system agents in medicinal chemistry

Root

1. Indian journal of critical care medicine : peer-reviewed, official publication of Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine

Chemicals

Cyanthillium cinereum has 48 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Chrysoeriol, Flavonoids, Lupeol, RUTIN, beta-Amyrin.

Chrysoeriol

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. Drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics

Flavonoids

1. Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & research
2. Central nervous system agents in medicinal chemistry

Lupeol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports

RUTIN

1. In silico pharmacology
2. Pharmaceutical biology

beta-Amyrin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

beta-Amyrin acetate

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

luteolin

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. Drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics

quercetin

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics

Arachidic

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Cyanthillium cinereum has 120 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, Allergenic, Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. African health sciences
3. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic

1. Dr. Duke

Anemiagenic

1. Dr. Duke

Angiogenic

1. Dr. Duke

Anorexic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Cyanthillium cinereum has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include anti-malarial, convulsion, skin diseases, smoking cessation.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations