Elecampane

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Elecampane
• Fragrant Inula

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Inula lanuginosa
• Inula oblonga
• Inula pseudocappa
• Helenium salviodorum
• Duhaldea lanuginosa
• Inula cappa f. radiata
• Conyza cappa
• Inula eriophora
• Inula intermedia
• Blumea arnottiana
• Duhaldea chinensis var. cappa
• Conyza dentata
• Duhaldea chinensis
• Duhaldea eriophora
• Helenium cappa
• Inula cappa
• Inula salviodora
• Moquinia eriosematoides
• Pteronia marginata
• Vernonia congesta
• Vernonia eriosematoides

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 classified under the family Asteraceae. Its specific taxonomic designation is within the genus Duhaldea, where it is identified as Duhaldea cappa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several specific regions in Asia. Within China, it can be found throughout the South-Central provinces and the Southeast regions. Its presence is also noted on the tropical island of Hainan. Moving toward the Indian Subcontinent, the species is documented in the state of Assam. Finally, its habitat extends into the high-altitude areas of the East Himalaya.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Duhaldea cappa is characterized by its specific altitudinal distribution within its natural habitat, where it occupies a distinct vertical niche. The species thrives across a varied elevational range that begins at a minimum altitude of 400 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 2400 m AMSL. Within this broad environmental gradient, the plant reaches its optimal ecological conditions at a mean elevation of approximately 500 m AMSL, suggesting a preference for lower to mid-elevation montane or sub-montane zones while maintaining the biological plasticity to survive in significantly higher terrain.

Elevational range max:

2400 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

400 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Duhaldea cappa is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its developmental stages within a single year. This longevity enables the species to establish a robust presence within its ecological niche, often developing extensive root systems or vegetative structures that support its continued survival and reproduction over several years. Unlike annuals or biennials that undergo rapid senescence after flowering, this perennial nature facilitates a more stable and continuous contribution to its habitat, as the plant can endure varying environmental conditions and undergo seasonal cycles of growth and dormancy.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Duhaldea cappa is characterized by its versatile growth habits and structural composition. It functions as a self-supporting plant, manifesting as both a shrub and a subshrub, which allows it to maintain its structure without the need for external climbing aids. While it possesses the capacity to exist in various ecological niches, its primary habitat is terrestrial, though it exhibits a range of environmental tolerances spanning aquatic, semiaquatic, and terrestrial conditions. Structurally, the plant is defined by its woody nature, providing a firm and durable framework. Furthermore, Duhaldea cappa is an independent organism, functioning without parasitic dependencies, and maintains a terrestrial existence rather than acting as an epiphyte.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Growth form :

subshrub

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Duhaldea cappa is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency within its ecological niche. The vegetative morphology is defined by its leaf dimensions, where the leaf length exhibits significant variability. On average, the leaves measure approximately 13 cm in length, with individual specimens ranging from a minimum of 10 cm to a maximum of 16 cm.

Leaf length max:

16 cm

Leaf length mean:

13 cm

Leaf length min:

10 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Duhaldea cappa is characterized by a specific flowering window and consistent fruit development. The flowering period typically commences in September and concludes in October, although the timing can be variable depending on environmental conditions. Following the pollination phase, the plant produces fruits that exhibit highly uniform dimensions; the fruit length is remarkably consistent, with a minimum, mean, and maximum measurement all recorded at 0.18 cm.

Flowering time :

Sep

Flowering time :

Oct

Fruit length max:

0.18 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Duhaldea cappa has 1 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 root.

Root

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
3. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine

Chemicals

Duhaldea cappa has 16 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CHLOROGENIC ACID, Cryptochlorogenic acid, Scopolin, 1,3-O-Dicaffeoylquinic acid, 3,4-Dicaffeoylquinic acid.

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Frontiers in pharmacology
3. Journal of analytical methods in chemistry

Cryptochlorogenic acid

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Scopolin

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

1,3-O-Dicaffeoylquinic acid

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

3,4-Dicaffeoylquinic acid

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

3,4-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

4,5-Dicaffeoylquinic acid

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

4,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Galuteolin

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Activities

Duhaldea cappa has 1 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiproliferative.

Antiproliferative

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Preparations

Duhaldea cappa has 8 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include EtOH extract of the whole plant, I. cappa extract, Inula cappa extract, Inula cappa extraction, ethanolic extract of the whole plant.

Etoh extract of the whole plant

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

I. cappa extract

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Inula cappa extract

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Inula cappa extraction

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Ethanolic extract of the whole plant

1. Fitoterapia

Methanolic extract

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine

Root decoction

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Whole herb

1. Fitoterapia