Ligularia duciformis

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Senecillis duciformis
• Senecio duciformis

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Asterales, it is classified under the family Asteraceae. Ultimately, its specific taxonomic designation is within the genus Ligularia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is native to several distinct regions across China. Its geographical range is primarily defined by its presence in China South-Central. Additionally, the species can be found growing in the northern territories of Inner Mongolia. It also extends its distribution into the areas of China North-Central. Together, these regions map out the specific natural habitats where the plant thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Ligularia duciformis is characterized by its distribution across high-altitude montane environments, where it occupies a specific vertical niche within its habitat. This species thrives across a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from a minimum elevation of 1900 m AMSL to a maximum elevation of 4100 m AMSL. The ecological preference of the plant is centered around a mean elevation of approximately 3000 m AMSL, suggesting that it is most commonly adapted to the environmental conditions, such as temperature regimes and atmospheric pressures, typical of mid-to-high mountain ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

4100 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1900 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Ligularia duciformis is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its habitat through multiple growing seasons. As a perennial, the plant establishes a robust root system that enables it to survive periods of dormancy and regrow annually. Its developmental cycle typically involves a period of vegetative growth where it develops large, characteristic leaves, followed by a reproductive phase where it produces inflorescences. Because it does not complete its entire life cycle within a single year like annuals or biennial species, it can invest more energy into long-term survival and structural complexity, often becoming more established and resilient in its specific ecological niche over time.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ligularia duciformis is characterized by a growth form classified as a herb, appearing as a non-woody organism. It does not exhibit woody characteristics, maintaining a soft, herbaceous structure throughout its development. In terms of its climbing habits, the plant is described as self-supporting, meaning it does not require external structures to maintain its posture, distinguishing it from obligatory or facultative climbers.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

herb

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ligularia duciformis is characterized by significant morphological variability in its foliar structures, which play a critical role in its metabolic and photosynthetic processes. The plant exhibits a wide range of leaf dimensions, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 16 cm, while maintaining an average leaf length of approximately 10.5 cm. This variation in longitudinal growth is accompanied by substantial fluctuations in lateral expansion; the leaf width demonstrates a minimum value of 75 cm and a maximum of 50 cm, with a mean leaf width recorded at 62.5 cm. Such extensive dimensions in leaf width and length suggest a highly adaptive physiological capacity to optimize light interception and gas exchange within its specific ecological niche.

Leaf length max:

16 cm

Leaf length mean:

10.5 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

50 cm

Leaf width mean:

62.5 cm

Leaf width min:

75 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ligularia duciformis is characterized by the development of specialized fruiting structures that follow the pollination of its inflorescence. The plant produces fruits that exhibit high morphological consistency in terms of size, specifically maintaining a uniform dimension throughout the fruiting stage. The fruit length is strictly characterized by a mean value of 1 cm, a maximum value of 1 cm, and a minimum value of 1 cm, indicating a lack of significant variance in the longitudinal dimension of the fruit. This precise measurement of 1 cm across all recorded parameters suggests a highly stabilized reproductive output within the species.

Fruit length max:

1 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Ligularia duciformis has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include BETA-SITOSTEROL, Daucosterol, Isoline, beta-Amyrone, caffeic acid.

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Daucosterol

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Isoline

1. Environmental toxicology and pharmacology

beta-Amyrone

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

caffeic acid

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Preparations

Ligularia duciformis has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include traditional Chinese medicinal herb.

Traditional chinese medicinal herb

1. Environmental toxicology and pharmacology