elephant's foot

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Elephant's Foot
• Elephants-foot
• Prickly-leaved elephant's foot

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Elephantopus scaber, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Asterales. It is a member of the Asteraceae family and is specifically categorized under the genus Elephantopus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several key regions of the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, its presence is noted in both Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Moving toward the eastern side of the continent, it can be found within East Tropical Africa, specifically in Tanzania. Its range also extends into South Tropical Africa, where it is documented in Angola. Finally, the species is also distributed throughout Mozambique in the southern part of the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Elephantopus scaber is characterized by its ability to thrive within specific altitudinal gradients, typically occupying habitats that range from an elevation of 600 m AMSL up to a maximum of 1800 m AMSL. This plant is commonly found in open, disturbed areas, such as forest edges, grasslands, and roadside verges, where it can access sufficient sunlight. It prefers environments with varying degrees of moisture but is notably resilient in tropical and subtropical climates, often colonizing moist, shaded, or partially sunny soils. Its distribution within this elevational range allows it to adapt to diverse microclimates, ranging from lowland tropical zones to higher-altitude montane regions, facilitating its widespread occurrence in diverse ecological niches.

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

600 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Elephantopus scaber is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, though its growth patterns can exhibit variability across different environmental conditions. In terms of its structural life form, the species functions as both a hemicryptophyte and a therophyte, utilizing these strategies to navigate seasonal changes and ensure survival. As a hemicryptophyte, it maintains its perennating buds at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or debris, while its therophyte characteristics allow it to complete its life cycle through ephemeral growth phases that facilitate rapid reproduction.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Elephantopus scaber is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically categorized as a forb. As a self-supporting plant, it does not function as a climber or a liana, nor does it exhibit parasitic behavior, growing instead as an independent organism. The species is terrestrial in nature, lacking any epiphytic or aquatic characteristics. In terms of stature, the plant typically reaches a maximum height of 1 meter, with an average height of approximately 0.8 meters, though its height can vary from 0 meters depending on the specific environmental conditions and developmental stage.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.8 m

Plant height min:

0 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Elephantopus scaber is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency under varying environmental conditions. The vegetative structure is defined by its leaf morphology, where the leaves exhibit significant dimensional variability; the leaf length typically maintains a mean of 11.5 cm, with individual specimens ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 18 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width shows a mean value of 3 cm, fluctuating between a minimum of 2 cm and a maximum of 4 cm. In terms of nutrient acquisition and symbiotic relationships, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil rather than through symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Leaf length max:

18 cm

Leaf length mean:

11.5 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

4 cm

Leaf width mean:

3 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Elephantopus scaber is characterized by specific morphological dimensions of its fruit and seeds, alongside a specialized dispersal mechanism. The plant produces fruits that maintain a consistent length, with both the mean and the minimum/maximum measurements recorded at 0.4 cm. The resulting seeds are remarkably lightweight, exhibiting a mean mass of 0.00164 g, with individual seed masses ranging from a minimum of 0.0015 g to a maximum of 0.00178 g. In terms of its dispersal syndrome, the species is primarily anemochorous, relying on wind for the movement of its seeds to new locations.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Fruit length max:

0.4 cm

Seed mass max:

0.00178 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00164 g

Seed mass min:

0.0015 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Elephantopus scaber 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. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Chemicals

Elephantopus scaber has 16 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Deoxyelephantopin, Isodeoxyelephantopin, Flavonoids, Carboxylic acid, Coumarins.

Deoxyelephantopin

1. International journal of molecular sciences
2. Journal of Asian natural products research
3. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research

Isodeoxyelephantopin

1. Journal of Asian natural products research
2. Frontiers in cell and developmental biology
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research
5. Food science & nutrition

Flavonoids

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine
2. Natural product communications

Carboxylic acid

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine

Coumarins

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine

Epifriedelanol

1. Acta medica Philippina

Lupeol

1. Acta medica Philippina

Saponins

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine

Scabertopin

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Steroids

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine

Activities

Elephantopus scaber has 8 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antihypercholesterolemic, Antiinflammatory, Antipyretic, Antitumor.

Analgesic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz

Antihypercholesterolemic

1. Acta medica Philippina

Antiinflammatory

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antipyretic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antitumor

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Cardiovascular

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cytotoxic

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Diuretic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Elephantopus scaber has 37 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, Staphylococcus aureus, diuresis, dysentery, fever.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations