Tumble Thistle

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Tumble Thistle

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Gundelia glabra
• Gundelia tournefortii var. glabra
• Gundelia tenuisecta
• Gundelia tournefortii var. tenuisecta

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Gundelia tournefortii, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Asterales. It is a member of the Asteraceae family and is specifically categorized under the genus Gundelia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across several distinct regions of the Middle East and North Africa. In Northern Africa, its presence can be specifically identified within the borders of Algeria. Moving into Western Asia, the species is found on the island of Cyprus. It also inhabits the mountainous and coastal terrains of the Lebanon-Syria region. Finally, its geographical range extends through Palestine and into the Sinai Peninsula.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Gundelia tournefortii is characterized by its ability to thrive in diverse terrestrial environments, specifically favoring crop fields, hills, and stony places. This plant occupies a distinct altitudinal niche, with its distribution spanning an elevational range from a minimum of 600 m AMSL to a maximum of 1400 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1400 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

600 m AMSL

Habitat :

crop fields, hills, stony places

Life history

The life history of Gundelia tournefortii is characterized by its classification as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons within its habitat. As a hemicryptophyte, the plant maintains its perennating buds at or just below the soil surface, protected by the leaf litter or the ground itself during unfavorable environmental conditions. This life form enables the plant to endure seasonal fluctuations by sheltering its regenerative tissues close to the substrate, facilitating its long-term survival and ability to re-emerge following periods of dormancy.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Gundelia tournefortii is characterized by a non-woody, herbaceous growth form, functioning as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies. This herb typically reaches a plant height ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 0.6 m. In terms of its ecological habitat and moisture preference, the plant is classified as terrestrial, distinguishing it from aquatic or semiaquatic species.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.6 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Gundelia tournefortii is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering period and distinct seed dispersal mechanisms. The plant's flowering cycle begins in May and concludes in June, marking a relatively concentrated reproductive window. During this stage, the plant produces seeds that exhibit a specific mass distribution; the average seed mass is approximately 0.13388667 g, with individual seeds ranging from a minimum of 0.0657 g to a maximum of 0.17684 g. Once the seeds are mature, they utilize an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on wind currents to transport them away from the parent plant to facilitate colonization of new areas.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jun

Seed mass max:

0.17684 g

Seed mass mean:

0.133886667 g

Seed mass min:

0.0657 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Gundelia tournefortii has 9 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Apigenin 7-glucoside, CINNAMIC ACID, Epicatechin, Flavonoid, Gallic acid.

Apigenin 7-glucoside

1. Nutrients

CINNAMIC ACID

1. Nutrients

Epicatechin

1. Nutrients

Flavonoid

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Gallic acid

1. Nutrients

Hydroxybenzoic acid

1. Nutrients

caffeic acid

1. Nutrients

p-coumaric acid

1. Nutrients

salicylic acid

1. Nutrients

Activities

Gundelia tournefortii has 13 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Hepatoprotective, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antioxidant, Antiplatelet.

Hepatoprotective

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antibacterial

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Anticancer

1. Nutrients

Antioxidant

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Antiplatelet

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Antiseptic

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Apoptotic

1. Nutrients

Cardioprotective

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Cytotoxic

1. Nutrients

Emetic

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Medicinal Uses

Gundelia tournefortii has 14 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include bronchitis, diarrhea, kidney stones, liver diseases, chest pain.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations