Soft Elephantsfoot

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Soft Elephantsfoot
• elephant's-foot
• elephantopus
• false tobacco
• tobacco-weed
• elephant's foot
• Elephant foot

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Elephantopus carolinianus var. mollis
• Elephantopus cervinus
• Elephantopus carolinensis
• Elephantopus mollis var. bracteosus
• Elephantopus cernuus
• Elephantopus mollis var. capitulatus
• Elephantopus hypomalacus
• Elephantopus martii
• Elephantopus pilosus
• Elephantopus scaber var. albiflorus
• Elephantopus sericeus
• Elephantopus serratus
• Elephantopus sordidus
• Elephantopus dilatatus

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. Within the order Asterales, it is classified under the family Asteraceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Elephantopus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Elephantopus mollis, exhibits a specific geographical distribution within the West Tropical Africa region. It can be found growing naturally in the country of Benin. Additionally, its presence extends to the territory of Burkina Faso. The species is also documented across Guinea-Bissau and the nation of Guinea. Finally, its range includes the coastal landscapes of the Ivory Coast.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Elephantopus mollis is characterized by a diverse range of habitats and a broad altitudinal distribution. This species demonstrates significant ecological plasticity, colonizing various environments including Anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), the Caatinga (strictu sensu), Campo Limpo, Cerrado (lato sensu), Restinga, Amazonian Savanna (Savaṇa Amazônica), and vegetation growing over rocky outcrops (Vegetação Sobre Afloramentos Rochosos). Its elevational range is expansive, spanning from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 2500 m AMSL, with a mean elevation of approximately 360 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

360 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Campo Limpo, Cerrado (lato sensu), Restinga, Savana Amazônica, Vegetação Sobre Afloramentos Rochosos

Genetics

The genetics of Elephantopus mollis are characterized by a specific chromosomal configuration that underpins its reproductive and evolutionary biology. The species possesses a diploid chromosome number of 22, which serves as the fundamental genetic blueprint for its cellular development and inheritance patterns. This genetic makeup is defined by a ploidy level of 2, indicating that the organism maintains two complete sets of chromosomes within its somatic cells. This stable diploidy contributes to the genetic consistency observed within the species, influencing its phenotypic expressions and its capacity for adaptation within its natural ecological niches.

Chromosome number :

22

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Elephantopus mollis is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth strategy, the species functions as a phanerophyte, specifically exhibiting the traits of a nanophanerophyte, which indicates that its perennially renewing buds are located above the ground level. This phanerophyte life form ensures its survival and continued development within its ecological niche throughout its life cycle.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Elephantopus mollis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb, typically functioning as an independent plant rather than a parasite or epiphyte. It is a terrestrial species, existing in land-based habitats rather than aquatic or semiaquatic environments. As a self-supporting plant, it does not exhibit climbing, vine, or liana characteristics. The plant maintains a modest stature, with a height ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of approximately 2.44 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2.438429651 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Elephantopus mollis is characterized by specific morphological dimensions and structural adaptations that support its growth patterns. The plant features leaves that exhibit significant variability in size, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 6 cm to a maximum of 25 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width varies between a minimum of 2 cm and a maximum of 10 cm, facilitating an optimal surface area for photosynthetic activity. Structurally, the plant lacks succulence, meaning it does not possess thickened, fleshy tissues for specialized water storage, relying instead on standard vegetative hydration strategies. This combination of leaf dimensions and non-succulent tissue composition defines its physical growth habit and resource management within its natural habitat.

Leaf length max:

25 cm

Leaf length min:

6 cm

Leaf width max:

10 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Elephantopus mollis is characterized by the production of small, pink-colored flowers that culminate in the development of specialized fruit structures. The fruit is classified as an achene, which is an indehiscent type, meaning it does not split open at maturity to release its contents. These fruits are quite diminutive in size, typically ranging in length from a minimum of 0.19 cm to a maximum of 0.27 cm. Within these fruits, the seeds exhibit slight variations in mass, with a recorded minimum of 0.00103 g, a maximum of 0.0013 g, and a mean seed mass of approximately 0.001165 g. To facilitate the spread of the species, the plant utilizes an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on the movement of wind to transport its seeds to new locations.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flower colour :

pink

Fruit length max:

0.27 cm

Fruit length min:

0.19 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Seed mass max:

0.0013 g

Seed mass mean:

0.001165 g

Seed mass min:

0.00103 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Elephantopus mollis 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 leaf.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Elephantopus mollis has 15 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Molephantin, Lupeol acetate, Phantomolin, 2-Deethoxy-2beta-methoxyphantomolin, Elephantopin.

Molephantin

1. Journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Planta medica
3. Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)

Lupeol acetate

1. Journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Planta medica

Phantomolin

1. Journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)

2-Deethoxy-2beta-methoxyphantomolin

1. Planta medica

Elephantopin

1. Planta medica

Epifriedelanol

1. Journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Epifriedelinol

1. Planta medica

Isoelephantopin

1. Planta medica

Lupeol

1. Planta medica

Molephantinin

1. Journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Activities

Elephantopus mollis has 2 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antitumor, Inflammatory.

Antitumor

1. Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)

Inflammatory

1. Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)

Medicinal Uses

Elephantopus mollis has 7 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Leishmania major, MCF-7 cells, bone diseases, bone regeneration, gastric cancer.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations