Gynura pseudochina

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Gynura pseudochina

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Senecio divaricatus
• Cacalia albicans
• Gynura pseudochina
• Senecio boryanus
• Kleinia hieracioides
• Porophyllum hieracioides
• Cacalia hieracioides
• Gynura auriculata var. glabrata
• Cacalia incana
• Gynura panershenia
• Cacalia ovalis
• Gynura auriculata
• Gynura glabrata
• Gynura hemsleyana
• Gynura ovalis
• Gynura incana

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Following its subclass Magnoliidae, it is further categorized under the order Asterales and the family Asteraceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Gynura and the species divaricata.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning across different regions of the world. Within the Western Indian Ocean, it can be found specifically on the islands of Mauritius and Réunion. Its presence extends significantly into Asia, particularly throughout various parts of China. Specifically, it is documented in the South-Central and Southeast regions of the Chinese landscape. Additionally, the species is known to inhabit the tropical island province of Hainan.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Gynura divaricata is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution that spans diverse montane and sub-montane environments. This species exhibits significant adaptability to varying topographical levels, inhabiting an elevational range that begins as low as 160 m AMSL and extends to a maximum of 2100 m AMSL. Across its typical habitats, the plant maintains an elevational range mean of approximately 1130 m AMSL, suggesting a preference for mid-altitude ecosystems while remaining capable of surviving in both lowland and high-altitude niches. This wide vertical gradient implies that the species can tolerate a variety of temperature regimes and atmospheric pressures associated with different mountain elevations.

Elevational range max:

2100 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1130 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

160 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Gynura divaricata is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist across multiple growing seasons. In terms of its biological structure and survival strategy, it is classified under the life form of a chamaephyte, indicating that its buds and reproductive organs are situated close to the soil surface, often protected by leaf litter or minimal ground cover. This combination of a long-lived perennial nature and a chamaephyte growth habit enables the species to maintain stability and resilience within its natural habitat.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Gynura divaricata is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. It is a terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism, meaning it does not exhibit parasitic behavior. As a self-supporting species, it does not possess climbing mechanisms such as obligate or facultative tendrils. The plant's stature varies significantly depending on its specific environmental context or developmental stage; it typically reaches a mean height of approximately 0.45 m to 1 m, with individual specimens ranging from a minimum height of 0.3 m to a maximum of approximately 1.22 m.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.219214826 m

Plant height max:

0.6 m

Plant height mean:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.45 m

Plant height min:

0.609607413 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Gynura divaricata is characterized by specific morphological dimensions and nutritional strategies that define its vegetative growth. In terms of nutrient acquisition, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on the available nitrogen levels within its substrate. Its photosynthetic capacity is supported by foliage that exhibits significant morphological variability in size. The leaf length typically maintains a mean of 8.5 cm, though it can range from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 15 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width displays a mean of 3.25 cm, with individual leaves varying from a minimum width of 1.5 cm to a maximum width of 5 cm. These dimensions reflect the plant's adaptive physiological capacity to optimize surface area for light interception and gas exchange within its specific ecological niche.

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length mean:

8.5 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf width max:

5 cm

Leaf width mean:

3.25 cm

Leaf width min:

1.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Gynura divaricata is characterized by the development of specific fruit structures that exhibit distinct morphological variations in size. The fruit length within this species demonstrates a range of measurements, with some specimens producing smaller fruits measuring between a minimum of 0.3 cm and a maximum of 0.4 cm, resulting in a mean length of 0.35 cm. In other instances or developmental stages, the fruit dimensions may shift toward a larger profile, where the length is consistently measured at 0.5 cm, representing both the minimum, maximum, and mean values for that specific grouping. This variation in fruit length, ranging from 0.3 cm to 0.5 cm, plays a critical role in the plant's reproductive output and seed dispersal mechanisms.

Fruit length max:

0.4 cm

Fruit length max:

0.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.35 cm

Fruit length min:

0.3 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Gynura divaricata has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Pharmacognosy magazine

Chemicals

Gynura divaricata has 19 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include caffeic acid, 3,4-Dicaffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-Dicaffeoylquinic acid, 4,5-Dicaffeoylquinic acid, CD.

caffeic acid

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

3,4-Dicaffeoylquinic acid

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

3,5-Dicaffeoylquinic acid

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

4,5-Dicaffeoylquinic acid

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

CD

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

DIBUTYL TEREPHTHALATE

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Dicaffeoylquinic acid

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Flavonoids

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Hydroxycinnamic acid

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Activities

Gynura divaricata has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Hypoglycemic.

Hypoglycemic

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Medicinal Uses

Gynura divaricata has 11 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, bronchitis.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations