Jacobaea maritima

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several regions in Northern Europe. Specifically, it can be found growing throughout Great Britain and Ireland. Its presence also extends further north into the country of Sweden. Moving into Middle Europe, the species is documented in Belgium. Finally, it is also commonly located within Germany.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Jacobaea maritima is characterized by its ability to thrive across a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 2600 m AMSL. While the species is frequently associated with lowland habitats, its expansive elevational range allows it to adapt to diverse environmental conditions across various topographical layers. This adaptability enables the plant to occupy a wide variety of niches within its geographical distribution, maintaining ecological presence from coastal lowlands to high-altitude mountainous regions.

Elevational range max:

2600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Jacobaea maritima is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. Functioning as a chamaephyte, the species maintains its buds close to the soil surface, which helps it navigate its specific environmental niches. Its growth pattern is notably deciduous, meaning it sheds its foliage as part of its seasonal cycle. This combination of a perennial lifecycle and a chamaephyte life form ensures its ability to endure varying climatic conditions while maintaining a consistent presence within its habitat.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Jacobaea maritima is characterized by a growth form that functions as both a shrub and a forb, exhibiting a woody texture. This plant is a self-supporting, non-climbing species that grows in an erect shoot orientation. It is a terrestrial organism, functioning as an independent species rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of stature, the plant typically reaches a mean height of 0.6 m, though its size can vary from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum height of 1 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.6 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Jacobaea maritima is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits a specific leaf morphology, featuring oblong-shaped leaves that are arranged in an alternate pattern along the stem. These leaves possess a mean surface area of 12.29 cm² and a mean width of 4 cm, with the width remaining consistent at a minimum and maximum of 4 cm. The leaf length reaches a maximum of 6.5 cm, contributing to the overall structural dimensions of the foliage. Furthermore, the plant demonstrates a Specific Leaf Area (SLA) with a mean value of 121 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass per unit area and indicating its physiological adaptation to its environment through its leaf thickness and density.

Leaf arrangement :

alternate

Leaf form :

oblong

Leaf length max:

6.5 cm

Leaf size mean:

12.29 cm²

Leaf width mean:

4 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

121 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Jacobaea maritima is characterized by a bisexual sexual reproductive system that relies on biotic pollination, specifically utilizing an insect pollination syndrome. The plant produces yellow flowers arranged in a raceme inflorescence, with individual flower lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.3 cm to a maximum of 0.5 cm. Flowering is highly variable throughout the year, typically beginning in December and concluding in July. Self-fertilization is absent, ensuring genetic diversity through cross-pollination. Following successful fertilization, the plant develops indehiscent fruit in the form of an achene. These fruits are relatively small, with a mean length of 0.2 cm (ranging from 0.2 to 0.28 cm) and a mean width of 0.2 cm. Each fruit is highly prolific, containing more than 1,000 seeds, each possessing a mean seed mass of 2e-04 g. The dispersal of these seeds follows an anemochorous syndrome, meaning they are specialized for dispersal by wind.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flower colour :

yellow

Flower length max:

0.5 cm

Flower length min:

0.3 cm

Flowering time :

Dec

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit length max:

0.28 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.2 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Fruit width mean:

0.2 cm

Inflorescence :

raceme

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass mean:

2e-04 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Jacobaea maritima 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. International journal of molecular sciences

Preparations

Jacobaea maritima has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aqueous leaf extract.

Aqueous leaf extract

1. International journal of molecular sciences