Cupid's-paintbrush

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Cupid's-paintbrush
• red thistle
• tassel-flower

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Emilia sonchifolia var. sagittata
• Emilia gracilis
• Cacalia tenuissima
• Cacalia coccinea
• Emilia flammea
• Emilia humbertii
• Emilia humbertii var. angustifolia
• Emilia macaulayae
• Emilia caespitosa

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 organized into the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asterales, falling under the family Asteraceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Emilia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning both Atlantic islands and the African continent. In the Macaronesian region, its presence is specifically noted in Madeira. Moving to West Tropical Africa, the species can be found across several distinct nations. It is documented to grow in Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Liberia. Furthermore, its range extends eastward to include Nigeria within the West Tropical African zone.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Emilia coccinea is characterized by its presence in diverse environments, ranging from open grasslands to more densely covered bushed grasslands. It is notably resilient and adaptable, frequently appearing as one of the most common weed species within cultivated areas, particularly along coastal regions. In terms of vertical distribution, the species occupies a broad altitudinal spectrum, thriving at elevations starting from a minimum of 350 m AMSL and extending up to a maximum of 3000 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

350 m AMSL

Habitat :

grassland, bushed grassland, one of the commonest weeds of cultivation on the coast

Genetics

The genetics of Emilia coccinea are characterized by a distinct chromosomal configuration that reflects its evolutionary complexity. Specifically, the plant exhibits variation in its ploidy levels, with documented chromosome numbers of 10 and 20. This presence of both haploid and diploid sets indicates a capacity for polyploidy, a genetic phenomenon that often contributes to the phenotypic diversity and adaptive resilience of species within the Asteraceae family. Such chromosomal fluctuations play a significant role in the plant's genetic architecture, influencing its reproductive strategies and its ability to thrive across varying environmental niches.

Chromosome number :

10, 20

Life history

The life history of Emilia coccinea is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire biological progression from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, its survival strategy relies on completing its reproductive cycle rapidly and then perishing, leaving behind seeds that ensure the continuity of the species during unfavorable periods. This life form indicates that the plant maintains its perennating organs in the form of seeds, allowing it to colonize disturbed or open habitats effectively each year.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Emilia coccinea is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It functions as a self-supporting plant, neither acting as a climber (such as a liana or vine) nor as an epiphyte, as it is strictly terrestrial in its habitat. As an independent organism, it does not exhibit parasitic behavior. In terms of stature, the plant maintains a relatively low profile, with a height ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 1 m, resulting in a mean plant height of approximately 0.55 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.55 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Emilia coccinea is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation efficiency. The plant's foliar morphology plays a critical role in its gas exchange and light interception, featuring leaves with a mean length of 6 cm (ranging from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 15 cm) and a mean width of 2.25 cm (varying from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 7 cm). Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil rather than symbiotic biological nitrogen fixation to support its physiological development and growth.

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length mean:

6 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf width max:

7 cm

Leaf width mean:

2.25 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Emilia coccinea is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily mediated by insects, which facilitates the fertilization process. The plant is capable of self-fertilization, ensuring reproductive success under various environmental conditions. Its inflorescence is quite small, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.01 m to a maximum of 0.015 m. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces small fruits that maintain a consistent length of 0.3 cm, as both the minimum, mean, and maximum recorded fruit lengths are documented at this specific measurement. For the spread of its offspring, Emilia coccinea utilizes an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on wind to transport its seeds away from the parent plant.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Fruit length max:

0.3 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.015 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.01 m

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Emilia coccinea 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 intercultural ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Emilia coccinea has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Ligularidine, Neoligularidine, Neosenkirkine, Platyphylline, Platyphylline N-oxide.

Ligularidine

1. Journal of chromatography. A

Neoligularidine

1. Journal of chromatography. A

Neosenkirkine

1. Journal of chromatography. A

Platyphylline

1. Journal of chromatography. A

Platyphylline N-oxide

1. Journal of chromatography. A

Senkirkine

1. Journal of chromatography. A

Activities

Emilia coccinea has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial.

Antimicrobial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Emilia coccinea has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Helicobacter pylori, hyperglycemia, typhoid fever.

Helicobacter pylori

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hyperglycemia

1. Journal of intercultural ethnopharmacology

Typhoid fever

1. The Central African journal of medicine

Preparations

Emilia coccinea has 5 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aqueous extract, aqueous leaf extracts, ethanolic leaf extracts, methanol extract, methanol plant extracts.

Aqueous extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous leaf extracts

1. Journal of intercultural ethnopharmacology

Ethanolic leaf extracts

1. Journal of intercultural ethnopharmacology

Methanol extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Methanol plant extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology