Scarlet Avens

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Scarlet Avens
• Chiloe Avens

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Geum chilense
• Geum chilense var. grandiflorum
• Geum chilense var. miniatum
• Geum chiloense

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. Following the subclass Magnoliidae, it is placed in the order Rosales and the family Rosaceae. Ultimately, it is categorized under the genus Geum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a highly fragmented geographical distribution across several continents. In Northern Europe, its presence is recorded within the region of Great Britain. Moving to the Western part of South America, it can be found growing in Bolivia. The species also inhabits Southern South America, specifically covering the Central region of Chile. Furthermore, its range extends into the South of Chile to complete its global distribution.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Geum quelljon is characterized by a broad altitudinal adaptability, allowing it to inhabit diverse montane and sub-montane environments. It occupies a significant vertical gradient within its natural habitat, spanning an elevational range from 0 m AMSL to a maximum of 2600 m AMSL. This wide distribution suggests that the species can thrive in various microclimates, ranging from lowland tropical or subtropical zones to high-altitude ecosystems, provided the specific soil and moisture requirements of its niche are met.

Elevational range max:

2600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Geum quelljon is characterized by its classification as a perennial, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a stable presence in its habitat. As a perennial species, it does not complete its reproductive cycle in a single year like annuals or biennial varieties, but instead invests in long-term survival through established root systems that facilitate regrowth year after year. This perennial nature enables the plant to endure seasonal fluctuations, accumulating resources over time to support robust flowering and seed production during its active growth phases.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Geum quellyon is characterized by a growth form categorized as a herb, exhibiting a non-woody structure throughout its vegetative development. This plant functions as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic tendencies, and is primarily terrestrial in its habitat, though it can exist within a spectrum ranging from semiaquatic to aquatic environments. It does not exhibit epiphytic behavior, remaining firmly rooted in terrestrial substrates rather than growing on other plants as a holoepiphyte or hemiepiphyte. Furthermore, the plant is self-supporting in its physical stature, meaning it does not function as a climbing liana or vine, but rather maintains its upright or spreading herbaceous habit through its own structural integrity.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Geum quellyon is characterized by a metabolic framework centered around the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a trait shared with most temperate perennial herbs. Under this C3 mechanism, the plant fixes atmospheric carbon dioxide through the enzyme Rubisco during the Calvin cycle, primarily occurring within the mesophyll cells. This process involves the direct carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate to form 3-phosphoglycerate, which serves as the fundamental building block for carbohydrate synthesis. Because it lacks the specialized Kranz anatomy or temporal separation found in C4 or CAM species, its physiological efficiency is highly dependent on ambient temperature and moisture availability, as the plant must balance carbon uptake with transpirational water loss through its stomata. Consequently, its metabolic rate and biomass accumulation are closely tied to environmental conditions that optimize the efficiency of the C3 cycle while minimizing photorespiration.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Geum quellyon is characterized by the production of specialized seeds that exhibit highly consistent physical properties. Based on quantitative analysis, the seed mass of this species is exceptionally uniform, with no observed variation between individual specimens. The seed mass mean is recorded at 0.0014 g, a value that is identically mirrored by both the maximum and minimum recorded seed mass values of 0.0014 g. This lack of variance in seed mass suggests a highly standardized reproductive output, ensuring that each seed produced maintains a precise weight of 0.0014 g.

Seed mass mean:

0.0014 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Geum quellyon has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include cyclosporine.

cyclosporine

1. Revista medica de Chile