boneset

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• boneset
• perfoliate thoroughwort
• thoroughwax
• thoroughwort

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cunigunda perfoliata
• Uncasia perfoliata
• Eupatorium perfoliatum var. colpophilum
• Eupatorium perfoliatum f. purpureum
• Eupatorium polyneuron
• Eupatorium chapmanii
• Eupatorium perfoliatum f. trifolium
• Eupatorium perfoliatum f. laciniatum
• Eupatorium serotinum var. polyneuron

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 and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Asterales and the family Asteraceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identification is placed within the genus Eupatorium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several provinces in Canada. In Western Canada, its presence is noted within the province of Manitoba. Moving to the eastern part of the country, it can be found in Ontario. The species also extends into the Atlantic provinces, specifically occupying New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Additionally, its range includes the island province of Prince Edward Island.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Eupatorium perfoliatum is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. As a long-lived herb, it establishes a robust root system that facilitates its survival across successive years, rather than completing its entire biological cycle within a single season. This perennial nature enables the plant to undergo seasonal cycles of vegetative growth and flowering, often re-emerging from its established rootstock to colonize moist or wetland habitats over an extended period.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Eupatorium perfoliatum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. It functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor as an epiphyte, maintaining a primarily terrestrial existence across its habitat. Although it possesses a growth habit that can be categorized within the spectrum of aquactic, semiaquatic, and terrestrial environments, it is fundamentally a self-supporting plant. Unlike lianas or vines, it does not exhibit climbing traits, instead relying on its own structural integrity to remain self-supporting.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Eupatorium perfoliatum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. In this C3 cycle, the initial fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide occurs through the enzyme Rubisco, resulting in the direct formation of a three-carbon compound, 3-phosphoglycerate. This metabolic strategy dictates the plant's water-use efficiency and its physiological response to varying light intensities and temperature gradients within its natural habitat. Because it lacks the specialized Kranz anatomy associated with C4 plants or the nocturnal acid accumulation of CAM metabolism, its gas exchange and transpiration rates are closely synchronized with daytime stomatal activity to maintain optimal photosynthetic output.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Eupatorium perfoliatum is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering window and the production of highly diminutive seeds. The flowering period typically begins in July and continues through September. During this reproductive phase, the plant produces seeds that exhibit a very low mass, with an average seed mass of approximately 0.000109 g. The individual seed weight varies within a narrow range, with a recorded minimum mass of 8.7e-05 g and a maximum mass reaching 0.00014 g.

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Sep

Seed mass max:

0.00014 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000109 g

Seed mass min:

8.7e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Eupatorium perfoliatum has 48 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include EUPAFOLIN, quercetin, Alanine Aminotransferase, Ash, Astragalin.

EUPAFOLIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

quercetin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Alanine Aminotransferase

1. Archives of pathology & laboratory medicine

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

Astragalin

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

CHROMIUM

1. Dr. Duke

COBALT

1. Dr. Duke

Dendroidinic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Eucannabinolide

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Eupatorium perfoliatum has 483 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-HT-Inhibitor, 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor, ACE-Inhibitor, AP-1-Inhibitor.

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-HT-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AP-1-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Alcohol-Dehydrogenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Eupatorium perfoliatum has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include fever, infections, influenza A virus, scabies.

Fever

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Infections

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Influenza a virus

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Scabies

1. Dermatologic therapy

Preparations

Eupatorium perfoliatum has 7 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include alcoholic tinctures, boneset, decoctions, extract, hot water infusions.

Alcoholic tinctures

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Boneset

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Decoctions

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Extract

1. Arzneimittel-Forschung

Hot water infusions

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Hydroalcoholic extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Spagyric extract

1. Journal of clinical laboratory analysis