Texas sage

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Texas silverleaf
• barometer-bush
• purple-sage
• Texas barometer bush
• Texas ranger
• Texas sage

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Leucophyllum texanum
• Leucophyllum frutescens f. albiflorum
• Leucophyllum frutescens f. albineum
• Leucophyllum frutescens var. floribundum
• Leucophyllum frutescens var. glaucum
• Terania frutescens

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. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Lamiales. Finally, it is a member of the family Scrophulariaceae and is specifically identified by the genus Leucophyllum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution spanning across North America. In the United States, it is specifically documented within the South-Central region of Texas. Its presence extends extensively throughout Mexico, covering the Northeast and the Gulf regions. Furthermore, it can be found across the Northwest territories of Mexico. Finally, the species is also established throughout the Southwest portion of the country.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Leucophyllum frutescens is characterized by its ability to thrive across a specific altitudinal gradient, primarily inhabiting lowland environments. It is typically found at elevations ranging from a minimum of 0 m AMSL to a maximum of 500 m AMSL. This distribution suggests an adaptation to warmer, lower-altitude climates, often occurring in arid or semi-arid ecosystems where it can tolerate varying degrees of solar exposure and soil types within this specific topographical range.

Elevational range max:

500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Leucophyllum frutescens is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its life cycle in a single year. As a long-lived woody shrub, it establishes a robust root system that supports continuous growth and structural development over many years. Its lifecycle is marked by seasonal cycles of vegetative expansion and periodic flowering, often triggered by environmental cues such as rainfall or temperature shifts. This perennial nature enables the plant to endure varying climatic conditions, maintaining its presence in its natural habitat through sustained physiological activity and long-term survival.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Leucophyllum frutescens is characterized by a growth form classified as a shrub, exhibiting a predominantly non-woody structure. It functions as a self-supporting plant, neither acting as a climber (such as a liana or vine) nor as an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. The species is an independent organism, showing no parasitic tendencies, and thrives in terrestrial habitats rather than aquatic or semiaquatic environments.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Leucophyllum frutescens involves the production of specialized seeds that exhibit highly consistent physical characteristics. Based on available data, the seed mass is remarkably uniform, with a mean mass of 5.7e-05 g. This consistency is reflected across the entire observed range, as both the maximum and minimum seed mass values are recorded at 5.7e-05 g, indicating a lack of significant variance in the weight of the individual seeds produced during the reproductive cycle.

Seed mass mean:

5.7e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Leucophyllum frutescens has 3 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, flower, root.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)
3. Natural product research

Flower

1. Natural product research

Root

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Leucophyllum frutescens has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 1-OCTEN-3-OL, D-Limonene, Epigallocatechin, Eudesmin, Myricetin 3-acetylrhamnoside.

1-OCTEN-3-OL

1. Natural product research

D-Limonene

1. Natural product research

Epigallocatechin

1. Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)

Eudesmin

1. Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)

Myricetin 3-acetylrhamnoside

1. Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)

Pinoresinol diglucoside

1. Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)

Quercetin 3-O-glucoside

1. Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)

n-Heneicosane

1. Natural product research

propyl gallate

1. Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)

theobromine

1. Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)

Conditions

Leucophyllum frutescens has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Alzheimer's disease, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, neurodegenerative diseases.

Alzheimer's disease

1. Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Neurodegenerative diseases

1. Frontiers in bioscience (Landmark edition)

Preparations

Leucophyllum frutescens has 4 reported preparations identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Essential oils from the flowers, Essential oils from the leaves, Methanol-based extracts from the leaves, Methanol-based extracts from the roots.

Essential oils from the flowers

1. Natural product research

Essential oils from the leaves

1. Natural product research

Methanol-based extracts from the leaves

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Methanol-based extracts from the roots

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology