Chenopodium botrys

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Jerusalem-oak goosefoot
• feather-geranium
• Jerusalem oak
• Jerusalem oak goosefoot
• Sticky Goosefoot

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Neobotrydium botrys
• Teloxys botrys
• Vulvaria botrys
• Atriplex botrys
• Botrydium botrys
• Chenopodium aromaticum
• Chenopodium botrydium
• Chenopodium botrys
• Chenopodium nepalense
• Ambrina botrys
• Ambrina foetida
• Botrys aromaticus
• Roubieva botrys

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 within the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Caryophyllales. Finally, it is a member of the Amaranthaceae family, falling under the genus Dysphania.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a scattered distribution across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence is documented in Denmark and Finland. It can also be found throughout the landscapes of Sweden and Great Britain. Moving toward the center of the continent, the species extends into Middle Europe. Specifically, its range includes the country of Austria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Dysphania botrys is characterized by its adaptability to diverse terrestrial environments, specifically thriving in disturbed or open landscapes such as crop fields, sandy terrains, and stony places. This species demonstrates a broad altitudinal distribution, occupying a significant vertical gradient in its native range. It is found at elevations starting from a minimum of 400 m AMSL and can extend up to a maximum of 3200 m AMSL, allowing it to inhabit various montane and sub-montane ecological zones.

Elevational range max:

3200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

400 m AMSL

Habitat :

crop fields, sand, stony places

Life history

The life history of Dysphania botrys is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning it completes its entire developmental process from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, the plant maintains its life form by surviving the unfavorable seasons primarily in the form of seeds, which remain dormant until conditions become optimal for growth. This species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage as part of its seasonal adaptation to environmental changes.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Dysphania botrys is characterized by a non-woody, herbaceous growth form, specifically classified as a forb. As a terrestrial plant, it does not function as an epiphyte or an aquatic species, and it maintains an independent life cycle rather than acting as a parasite. The plant is self-supporting in its growth habit, lacking the climbing characteristics of a vine or liana. In terms of stature, it is a relatively low-growing species, with a plant height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.15 m to a maximum of 0.8 m, maintaining a mean height of approximately 0.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.8 m

Plant height mean:

0.5 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Dysphania botrys is characterized by a standard C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing the Calvin cycle to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide through the enzyme Rubisco. As a non-carnivorous species, the plant relies entirely on its root system for the uptake of essential mineral nutrients and water from the soil, rather than employing specialized mechanisms to capture or digest prey. This metabolic profile indicates a dependence on traditional nutrient absorption processes and typical photorespiration levels associated with C3 vegetation.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Dysphania botrys is primarily sexual, characterized by bisexual flowers that facilitate the production of offspring. The flowering period typically commences in July and concludes in August, though the timing can be variable. The plant relies on abiotic pollination syndromes, specifically utilizing wind for the transfer of pollen. Self-fertilization is noted to be absent, indicating a reliance on external agents for successful fertilization. Following fertilization, the plant produces fruit in the form of an achene, which is indehiscent. The resulting seeds are extremely lightweight, with a mean mass of 0.0001795 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.000126 g to a maximum of 0.00021 g. For the spreading of its progeny, the species employs a hydrochorous dispersal syndrome, utilizing water to transport its seeds to new locations. Asexual reproduction is absent in this species.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.00021 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0001795 g

Seed mass min:

0.000126 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Dysphania botrys has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Antioxidants, Essential amino acids, Flavonoids, Unsaturated Fatty Acid.

Antioxidants

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Essential amino acids

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Flavonoids

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Unsaturated Fatty Acid

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Dysphania botrys has 5 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antinociceptive, Antioxidant, Antispasmodic, Carminative, Diuretic.

Antinociceptive

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Antioxidant

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Antispasmodic

1. Mitochondrial DNA. Part B, Resources

Carminative

1. Mitochondrial DNA. Part B, Resources

Diuretic

1. Mitochondrial DNA. Part B, Resources

Conditions

Dysphania botrys has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer.

Cancer

1. Mitochondrial DNA. Part B, Resources

Preparations

Dysphania botrys has 6 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aqueous fraction, chloroform fraction, chloroform fraction extract, crude extract, crude methanolic extract.

Aqueous fraction

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Chloroform fraction

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Chloroform fraction extract

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Crude extract

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Crude methanolic extract

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Ethylacetate fraction

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences