Kaunia rufescens

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Eupatorium rufescens
• Eupatorium subtriplinerve
• Eupatorium rufescens var. glabratum

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Asterales and is a member of the family Asteraceae. Specifically, it is identified by the genus Kaunia, with its species name being Kaunia rufescens.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across various regions of South America. In Western South America, it can be specifically located within the territory of Bolivia. Within Brazil, the species is widely spread across the West-Central, Southeast, and South regions. Moving toward the southern portion of the continent, it is also found in the Northeast of Argentina. Together, these areas define the diverse environmental range inhabited by Kaunia rufescens.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Kaunia rufescens is defined by its specific niche within the Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, where it thrives in environments characterized by seasonal fluctuations in leaf cover. This species occupies a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 1000 m AMSL. This vertical distribution allows the plant to adapt to various microclimates within the seasonal semi-deciduous forest ecosystem, spanning from lowland tropical regions to higher montane reaches.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Floresta Estacional Semidecidual

Life history

The life history of Kaunia rufescens is characterized by its classification as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle in a single year. As a perennial, the plant undergoes complex developmental stages that include long-term establishment of its structural components, enabling it to withstand seasonal fluctuations and accumulate sufficient energy reserves to support repeated reproductive efforts. This extended lifespan contributes to its ecological stability, as the plant can maintain its presence in a given habitat through successive years, often exhibiting variable growth patterns depending on environmental resource availability.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Kaunia rufescens is characterized by a woody growth form that can manifest as either a tree or a shrub. This plant is primarily terrestrial in its habitat, not exhibiting aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies, and it functions as an independent organism without parasitic behavior. It is not an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. In terms of structural support, the plant is self-supporting rather than acting as a climber. The species reaches a maximum plant height of approximately 4 meters, with its woody nature providing the necessary structural integrity for its upright growth habit.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

4 m

Woodiness :

woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Kaunia rufescens has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Dehydroleucodin.

Dehydroleucodin

1. Natural toxins