Wing Vomitdaisy

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Wing Vomitdaisy

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cichorium alatum
• Geigeria macdougalii
• Diplostemma alatum

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 Asterales, it is classified under the family Asteraceae. Specifically, it is identified by its genus name, Geigera, and its species name, Geigera alata.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across several key regions within the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is documented in the countries of Mali, Mauritania, and Niger. The species also extends into Northeast Tropical Africa, where it can be found growing in Chad. Additionally, its geographical range reaches as far east as Djibouti. Together, these locations highlight the specific arid or semi-arid environments where the species thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Geigeria alata is characterized by its distribution across specific altitudinal gradients within its native habitat. This species thrives within an elevational range that extends from a minimum of 320 m AMSL to a maximum of 1200 m AMSL. Occupying these varying heights allows the plant to interact with a diverse array of microclimates and soil compositions found between these two limits, influencing its growth patterns and availability within its ecosystem.

Elevational range max:

1200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

320 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Geigeria alata is characterized by its classification as an annual plant, meaning it completes its entire biological cycle—from germination and vegetative growth to flowering and seed production—within a single growing season. As a therophyte, its survival strategy relies on completing its life cycle rapidly to exploit favorable environmental conditions before they vanish. This life form typically involves the plant dying off after seed dispersal, leaving behind seeds that remain dormant in the soil to await the next period of suitable moisture and temperature, thereby ensuring the continuation of the species through the next generation.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Geigeria alata is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. This terrestrial plant is self-supporting rather than being a climber or an epiphyte, and it functions as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies. In terms of stature, it is a relatively low-growing species with a plant height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 0.34 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 0.30 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.34 m

Plant height mean:

0.304803706 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Geigéria alatata is characterized by a metabolic framework governed by the C3 photosynthetic pathway. Within its leaf anatomy, carbon fixation is mediated by the enzyme ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO), which facilitates the direct carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate to produce 3-phosphoglycerate. This process occurs within the mesophyll cells without the specialized Kranz anatomy or temporal separation required by C4 or CAM pathways, making the plant's energy acquisition highly dependent on maintaining specific stomatal conductance and internal CO2 concentrations to optimize the efficiency of the Calvin cycle.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Geigeria alatata is characterized by the production of seeds that exhibit a highly consistent physical profile. Based on empirical data, the seeds produced by this species demonstrate no variation in weight, with a recorded seed mass mean, maximum, and minimum all converging at a singular value of 0.01739 g. This uniformity in seed mass suggests a highly stabilized reproductive output, ensuring that each individual seed carries a consistent nutrient load and physical dimension, which may play a role in its specific dispersal mechanisms and seedling establishment within its natural habitat.

Seed mass mean:

0.01739 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Geigeria alata has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root.

Leaf

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Root

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Chemicals

Geigeria alata has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 3,4,5-tricaffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-Dicaffeoylquinic acid, 4,5-Dicaffeoylquinic acid, 5-Caffeoylquinic acid, Axillarin.

3,4,5-tricaffeoylquinic acid

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

3,5-Dicaffeoylquinic acid

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

4,5-Dicaffeoylquinic acid

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

5-Caffeoylquinic acid

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Axillarin

1. Natural product research

Hispidulin

1. Natural product research

caffeic acid-hexoside

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

quercetin

1. Natural product research

Activities

Geigeria alata has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.

Antimicrobial

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Antioxidant

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Conditions

Geigeria alata has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cough, epilepsy.

Cough

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Epilepsy

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Preparations

Geigeria alata has 4 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include 70% ethanol extracts, aqueous-methanol extracts, essential oils, water extracts.

70% ethanol extracts

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Aqueous-methanol extracts

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

Essential oils

1. Planta medica

Water extracts

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine