Planta venenosa

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Planta venenosa
• blue eryngo
• cross thistle
• flat eryngo
• flat rattlesnake-master
• flat sea holly
• plains eryngo
• kok-bas

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Eryngium tournefortii
• Eryngium pallescens
• Eryngium bourgatii var. pyrenaicum

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 Apiales, it is classified under the family Apiaceae and the genus Eryngium. Specifically, it is identified by the variety name bourgatii.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several key regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence can be documented within the borders of Great Britain. Moving toward Middle Europe, the species is also found growing in Germany. Its range extends further into Southwestern Europe, where it inhabits various landscapes in France. Finally, the distribution continues through the Mediterranean reaches of Spain.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Eryngium bourgatii var. bourgatii is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse and often contrasting environmental conditions. This variety thrives across a wide spectrum of landscapes, ranging from the shaded, moisture-retentive environments of forests and lush meadows to the more exposed and arid terrains of semi-deserts and steppes. Its presence near rivers indicates an ability to utilize riparian moisture, yet it is equally capable of colonizing well-drained, sandy substrates. This ecological versatility allows the plant to inhabit both relatively stable, nutrient-rich ecosystems and more challenging, water-stressed habitats, demonstrating a high degree of resilience to varying levels of precipitation and soil composition.

Habitat :

forest, meadows, rivers, sand, semidesert, steppe

Life history

The life history of Eryngium bourgatii var. bourgatii is characterized by its classification as a perennial organism, meaning it possesses the ability to persist through multiple growing seasons. Its morphological structure and survival strategy are defined by its life form, specifically acting as a hemicryptophyte. This indicates that the plant's perennating buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by the remains of previous seasons' foliage or leaf litter, which allows it to endure varying environmental conditions and regrow during favorable periods.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Eryngium bourgatii var. bourgatii is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. This self-supporting plant is strictly terrestrial in its habitat, functioning as an independent organism rather than an epiphyte or parasite. In terms of stature, it maintains a modest height, typically ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 0.8 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.525 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:

0.525 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Eryngium bourgatii var. bourgatii is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation strategies. The morphological aspects of its foliage play a crucial role in its physiological efficiency and gas exchange capabilities. The leaves exhibit significant dimensional variation, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 8.5 cm, maintaining an average leaf length of 6.75 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width spans from a minimum of 2.5 cm to a maximum of 5 cm. These specific leaf dimensions and the C3 metabolic framework collectively influence the plant's transpiration rates and its ability to optimize light interception for energy production.

Leaf length max:

8.5 cm

Leaf length mean:

6.75 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

5 cm

Leaf width min:

2.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Eryngium bourgatii var. bourgatii is characterized by a specific flowering window that typically begins in June and concludes in July. The plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. While it is capable of self-fertilization, its reproductive success is tied to these biological interactions. Following successful pollination, the plant develops small fruits that vary in size; the fruit dimensions typically range from a minimum width of 0.15 cm to a maximum of 0.18 cm, with a mean width of 0.165 cm. In terms of length, the fruits range from 0.3 cm to 0.35 cm, maintaining a mean length of 0.325 cm. The resulting seeds are highly uniform in mass, with a recorded mean, minimum, and maximum value of 9e-04 g. Finally, the dispersal of these seeds follows an anemochorous syndrome, meaning they are primarily dispersed by the wind.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit length max:

0.35 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.325 cm

Fruit length min:

0.3 cm

Fruit width max:

0.18 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.165 cm

Fruit width min:

0.15 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass mean:

9e-04 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Eryngium bourgatii var. bourgatii has 3 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, leaf, root.

Fruit

1. Analytica chimica acta
2. Fitoterapia

Leaf

1. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica

Root

1. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica

Chemicals

Eryngium bourgatii var. bourgatii has 13 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, 2,3,4-trimethylbenzaldehyde, Antioxidant Activity, CHLOROGENIC ACID, Caryophyllene.

Flavonoids

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Pharmacognosy magazine

2,3,4-trimethylbenzaldehyde

1. Journal of food science and technology

Antioxidant Activity

1. Journal of food science and technology

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Acta biochimica Polonica

Caryophyllene

1. International journal of biomaterials

Coumarins

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Dipeptides

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Germacrene D

1. Journal of food science and technology

MYRISTIC ACID

1. International journal of biomaterials

Proanthocyanidins

1. Pharmacognosy magazine

Activities

Eryngium bourgatii var. bourgatii has 2 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.

Antimicrobial

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Eryngium bourgatii var. bourgatii has 12 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include CO2 extract, CO2 extract of Eryngium planum L., carbon dioxide extract, ethanol extracts from fruits, ethanolic extract from basal leaves.

Co2 extract

1. International journal of biomaterials

Co2 extract of eryngium planum l.

1. International journal of biomaterials

Carbon dioxide extract

1. International journal of biomaterials

Ethanol extracts from fruits

1. Fitoterapia

Ethanolic extract from basal leaves

1. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica

Ethanolic extracts obtained from leaves and roots

1. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica

Flavonoid fraction (lf)

1. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica

Flavonoid-saponin fraction (lf-s)

1. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica

Phenolic acids fraction (la)

1. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica

Phenolic acids fraction (ra)

1. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica