Water Avens

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• chocolate-root
• water avens
• Fjalldalafífill

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Bernoullia nutans
• Geum pictum
• Anemone decaphilla
• Anemone dodecaphilla
• Geum rivale var. alpinum
• Geum rivale var. asperum
• Geum rivale f. alpinum
• Geum rivale var. ambiguum
• Geum rivale var. degeneratum
• Geum rivale var. pallidum
• Geum rivale var. proliferum
• Geum rivale var. strictum
• Caryophyllata rivalis
• Caryophyllata nutans
• Bernoullia rivalis
• Bernoullia hybrida
• Geum rivale var. grandiflorum
• Geum rivale var. nemorale
• Geum rivale f. hispanicum
• Geum rivale subvar. humile
• Geum rivale var. hybridum
• Geum rivale f. interstylosum
• Geum rivale subsp. islandicum
• Geum rivale var. leonardii
• Geum rivale var. lividum
• Geum rivale var. luxurians
• Geum rivale var. minus
• Geum rivale monstrosum
• Geum rivale subvar. strictum
• Geum rivale f. subalpinum
• Geum rivale subsp. subalpinum
• Geum rivale var. subalpinum
• Geum rivale f. typicum
• Geum rafinesqueanum
• Geum incisum
• Geum hybridum
• Geum pallidum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Geum rivale, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Rosales and the family Rosaceae. Finally, it is classified under the genus Geum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide distribution across various regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the natural landscapes of Denmark and Finland. Its presence extends to the remote islands of the Faroe Islands and Iceland. Additionally, the species is well-established within the territory of Great Britain. Together, these locations define its specific northern geographical range.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Geum rivale is characterized by its preference for highly moist and diverse environments, frequently inhabiting forests, lakesides, meadows, rivers, shrubberies, and swamps. This species thrives in consistently wet habitats where soil moisture is abundant. In terms of altitudinal distribution, the plant occupies a specific montane niche, with an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 1200 m AMSL and extends to a maximum of 2300 m AMSL, maintaining a mean elevation of approximately 1750 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2300 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1750 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1200 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, lakes, meadows: wet, rivers, shrubberies, swamps

Life history

The life history of Geum rivale is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its long-term presence within its natural habitat. As a hemicryptophyte, it maintains its perennuating buds at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or soil cover during unfavorable conditions. This species exhibits an evergreen nature, retaining its foliage to facilitate continuous metabolic processes throughout various stages of its development.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Geum rivale is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb, functioning as a self-supporting plant rather than a climber or liana. It is a terrestrial species that grows independently, without any parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. The plant exhibits a variable height, typically ranging from a minimum of 0.15 m to a maximum of 1 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.6135 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.6135 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Geum rivale is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a standard metabolic strategy for plants inhabiting temperate, moist environments. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies entirely on soil-based nutrient uptake rather than the capture of prey. The leaf morphology reflects a specialized surface area for light interception, with an average leaf size of 64.28 cm². The dimensions of the foliage exhibit significant variability; the leaf length ranges from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 9 cm, with a mean length of 6.5 cm. Similarly, the leaf width varies from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 8 cm, resulting in a mean width of 5.5 cm. These morphological traits contribute to a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 206.2 cm²/g, a physiological indicator of the plant's leaf thickness and its efficiency in balancing light harvesting with resource conservation.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

9 cm

Leaf length mean:

6.5 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf size mean:

64.28 cm²

Leaf width max:

8 cm

Leaf width mean:

5.5 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

206.2 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Geum rivale is characterized by a sexual reproductive cycle that begins with flowering in May and extends through July. The plant produces flowers that typically range in length from 2 cm to 2.5 cm. The pollination process is primarily biotic, utilizing an insect-based pollination syndrome with a specific emphasis on bees. Notably, self-fertilization is absent in this species, necessitating these insect intermediaries for successful fertilization. Following pollination, the plant develops fruits classified as achenes, which are indehiscent in nature. The resulting seeds are quite small, with a mean mass of approximately 0.00107 g, though they can vary from a minimum of 0.00053 g to a maximum of 0.00134 g. For the distribution of its progeny, Geum rivale employs a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, specifically utilizing epizoochory, where seeds are dispersed by attaching to animals. Asexual reproduction is absent, meaning the plant relies entirely on its sexual cycle for propagation.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

epizoochorous

Flower length max:

2.5 cm

Flower length min:

2 cm

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.00134 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00107266666666667 g

Seed mass min:

0.00053 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

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

Tannin

1. Annales pharmaceutiques francaises

Conditions

Geum rivale has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include elastase, wounds.

Elastase

1. Annales pharmaceutiques francaises

Wounds

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Geum rivale has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts.

Extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology