Mexican thistle

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Mexican thistle

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Eryngium endlichii
• Eryngium medium
• Eryngium confusum
• Eryngium wrightii
• Eryngium altamiranoi

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. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Apiales, it falls under the family Apiaceae. Specifically, it is identified by the genus Eryngium, which includes the species Eryngium heterophyllum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across parts of North America, ranging from the southwestern regions to central Mexico. In the Southwestern United States, its presence is notably recorded in the state of Arizona. Moving into the South-Central United States, the species can be found throughout New Mexico and Texas. Its range extends significantly southward into Mexico, where it inhabits the central regions. Additionally, the plant is documented to grow within the northeastern parts of Mexico.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Eryngium heterophyllum is characterized by its classification as a perennial, meaning it lives for more than two years and can undergo multiple reproductive cycles throughout its existence. This long-lived growth habit allows the plant to establish a robust presence in its natural habitat, often developing a persistent root system that supports its survival through varying seasonal conditions. Unlike annuals that complete their life cycle in a single season or biennials that flower once before dying, this species maintains its physiological functions over several years, contributing to the stability of its ecological niche.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Eryngium heterophyllum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. It is a self-supporting plant, exhibiting neither climber nor liana tendencies, and functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite. In terms of its ecological habitat and positioning, the plant is terrestrial in nature, rather than being an aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic species.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Eryngium heterophyllum has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antihyperglycemic, Antioxidant.

Antihyperglycemic

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Eryngium heterophyllum has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include HeLa cells, antioxidant activity, dyslipidemia.

Hela cells

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant activity

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Dyslipidemia

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Eryngium heterophyllum has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include methanolic extracts.

Methanolic extracts

1. Acta tropica