smooth peruvian daisy

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• gallant soldier
• lesser Peruvian-daisy
• small-flowered galinsoga
• small-flowered quickweed
• Gallant-soldier
• dumb-nettle
• galinsoga-weed
• potato-weed
• small-flower galinsoga
• yellow-weed
• Galinsoga Weed
• Kew Weed
• Potato Weed
• Smaal-Flowered Galinsoga
• Yellow Weed
• smooth Peruvian daisy

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Galinsoga semicalva var. percalva
• Sabazia microglossa
• Galinsoga parviflora f. parceglandulosa
• Galinsoga parviflora f. subeglandulosa
• Vigolina acmella
• Galinsoga parviflora var. adenophora
• Wiborgia acmelea
• Wiborgia parviflora
• Galinsoga parviflora var. semicalva
• Adventina parviflora
• Baziasa microglossa
• Galinsoga acmella
• Galinsoga hirsuta
• Galinsoga laciniata
• Galinsoga quinqueradiata
• Galinsoga semicalva
• Stemmatella sodiroi
• Sabazia microglossa var. puberula

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Under the subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized within the order Asterales and the family Asteraceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is within the genus Galinsoga.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Galinsoga parviflora, exhibits a specific presence across several regions in Northern Europe. Its documented distribution includes the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. In the northernmost reaches of the continent, it can also be found within the borders of Finland. The species extends its range westward to include the territories of Great Britain and Ireland. Finally, its geographical footprint encompasses the rugged landscapes of Norway.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Galinsoga parviflora is characterized by its ability to thrive in anthropized areas (Área Antrópica), where it often colonizes disturbed environments shaped by human activity. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal plasticity, inhabiting a diverse range of vertical zones that stretch from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to high-altitude regions reaching a maximum of 3100 m AMSL. Throughout its distribution, it maintains a mean elevation of approximately 1950 m AMSL, demonstrating a significant capacity to adapt to varying climatic and topographic conditions across these diverse elevations.

Elevational range max:

3100 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1950 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Genetics

The genetics of Galinsoga parviflora are characterized by a notable degree of chromosomal variation, which plays a significant role in its evolutionary adaptability and reproductive strategies. Cytogenetic studies of this species reveal a complex karyotype, with documented chromosome numbers including 16, 32, and 36. This variation suggests the presence of different ploidy levels within populations, ranging from diploidy to polyploidy. Such genomic plasticity, evidenced by these fluctuating chromosome counts, is a key factor in the plant's ability to thrive in diverse ecological niches and respond to varying environmental pressures.

Chromosome number :

16, 32, 36

Life history

The life history of Galinsoga parviflora is characterized by its classification as an annual plant, meaning it completes its entire developmental cycle from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, it survives unfavorable environmental conditions by persisting in the form of seeds, which allows it to rapidly colonize disturbed habitats. Throughout its active growth phase, the plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage as part of its seasonal biological rhythm. This combination of an annual lifecycle and a therophytic life form enables the species to maintain a high degree of ecological plasticity and rapid reproductive turnover.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Galinsoga parviflora is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. This terrestrial, independent plant exhibits a self-supporting growth habit and does not function as a climber, liana, or vine. The shoot orientation is predominantly erect, supporting a stature that varies significantly depending on environmental conditions; the plant height typically ranges from a minimum of 0.07 m to a maximum of 1 m, with a mean height of approximately 0.509 m. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit epiphytic or aquatic characteristics, maintaining a stable, non-parasitic existence in its habitat.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.509 m

Plant height min:

0.07 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Galinsoga parviflora is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway and a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, as it does not possess the mechanisms to capture prey for nutrient acquisition. The plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil-based nitrogen uptake. Its vegetative morphology is defined by an opposite leaf arrangement, with leaf forms being primarily ovate. The leaves exhibit significant morphological variability, with a mean length of 4 cm (ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 6 cm) and a mean width of 2.35 cm (ranging from 0.5 cm to a maximum of 4 cm). These dimensions result in a mean leaf size of approximately 5.35215 cm², and the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 391.7 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass per area and its physiological approach to light interception and resource allocation.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf arrangement :

opposite

Leaf form :

ovate

Leaf length max:

6 cm

Leaf length mean:

4 cm

Leaf length min:

1 cm

Leaf size mean:

5.35215 cm²

Leaf width max:

4 cm

Leaf width mean:

2.35 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

391.7 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Galinsoga parviflora is primarily sexual, characterized by bisexual flowers that facilitate efficient reproductive cycles. The flowering period typically begins in May and extends through October, featuring small white flowers that range in width from a minimum of 0.4 cm to a maximum of 0.7 cm. Pollination is a biotic process, specifically driven by insects, and the plant is capable of self-fertilization. Following successful pollination, the plant produces dry, indehiscent fruits known as achenes, which are black in color. These fruits are quite small, with a mean length of 0.1625 cm (ranging from 0.1 cm to 0.18 cm) and a mean width of 0.2 cm. Each fruit is highly prolific, containing between 101 and 1000 seeds. The seeds themselves are minute, with a consistent mean length of 1 mm and a seed volume of approximately 0.17 mm³. The seed mass is also very low, averaging 0.000213333333333333 g, with values ranging from a minimum of 0.00018 g to a maximum of 0.00025 g. Dispersal is categorized as anemochorous, meaning the seeds are dispersed by the wind. Notably, asexual reproduction is absent in this species.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flower colour :

white

Flower width max:

0.7 cm

Flower width min:

0.4 cm

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Oct

Fruit colour :

black

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

0.18 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.1625 cm

Fruit length min:

0.1 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Fruit width mean:

0.2 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

1 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00025 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000213333333333333 g

Seed mass min:

0.00018 g

Seed volume max:

0.17 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Galinsoga parviflora has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CHLOROGENIC ACID, Flavonoids, Saponins, Tannins, Terpenoids.

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Bioresource technology

Flavonoids

1. Heliyon

Saponins

1. Heliyon

Tannins

1. Heliyon

Terpenoids

1. Heliyon

Activities

Galinsoga parviflora has 5 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antiaging, Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Antifungal.

Antioxidant

1. Advances in pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences
2. Heliyon

Antiaging

1. Advances in pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences

Antibacterial

1. Heliyon

Antidiabetic

1. Heliyon

Antifungal

1. Heliyon

Medicinal Uses

Galinsoga parviflora has 6 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cold, colorectal cancer, hyperglycemia, inflammation, malaria.

Most Reported Uses