Ligularia hodgsonii

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ligularia yesoensis
• Senecillis hodgsonii
• Ligularia yesoensis var. crenifera
• Senecio yesoensis
• Senecio yesoensis var. crenifer
• Ligularia hodgsonii var. crenifera

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asterales, it is situated in the family Asteraceae. Its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Ligularia, which includes the species Ligularia hodgsonii.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution spanning several distinct regions across the northern hemisphere. In Northern Europe, its presence is specifically noted in Sweden. The species is also found within the Russian Far East, inhabiting both the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin. Furthermore, its range extends significantly into China, covering both the South-Central and North-Central territories. These diverse locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in various temperate climates.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Ligularia hodgsonii is characterized by its preference for diverse montane environments, where it can be found inhabiting forests, meadows, mountains, and stony places. This species demonstrates a broad altitudinal distribution, thriving at elevations ranging from a minimum of 850 m AMSL to a maximum of 2800 m AMSL. Within this vertical range, the plant maintains an average elevation of approximately 1825 m AMSL, reflecting its adaptation to the specific climatic and soil conditions found in these mid-to-high altitude ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

2800 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1825 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

850 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, meadows, mountains, stony places

Life history

The life history of Ligularia hodgsonii is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its natural habitat through multiple growing seasons. As a long-lived herb, it typically establishes itself in the moist, shaded environments of montane forests and alpine meadows, where it develops robust rhizomatous systems to facilitate vegetative spread and nutrient storage. Each year, the plant undergoes a cyclical development pattern, emerging from its underground structures to produce large, lush foliage during the peak growing season. After reaching maturity, it enters a reproductive phase marked by the production of inflorescences, eventually transitioning into a period of dormancy or reduced metabolic activity during colder months to ensure survival. This perennial nature enables the plant to maintain a stable presence within its ecological niche, relying on both sexual reproduction via seeds and asexual expansion through its perennial root systems.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ligularia hodgsonii is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, manifesting as a robust forb. As a self-supporting plant, it does not require external structures for climbing. It typically reaches a plant height ranging from a minimum of 0.25 m to a maximum of 1 m, establishing a substantial presence within its habitat through its herbaceous structure.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

herb

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height min:

0.25 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiological profile of Ligularia hodgsonii is characterized by significant morphological variation in its foliar structures, which play a critical role in its metabolic processes and light interception capabilities. The leaves exhibit a diverse range of dimensions, with a mean leaf length of 6.5 cm, though individual specimens can vary from a minimum length of 5 cm to a maximum of 8 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaves show substantial width fluctuations, ranging from a minimum width of 4.5 cm to a maximum width of 13.5 cm. This variance in leaf area and shape suggests an adaptive physiological mechanism to optimize photosynthetic efficiency and transpiration rates within its specific ecological niche.

Leaf length max:

8 cm

Leaf length mean:

6.5 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

13.5 cm

Leaf width min:

4.5 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ligularia hodgsonii is characterized by a specific flowering season and the production of small, structured fruits. The flowering period typically commences in July and reaches its conclusion in August. Following pollination, the plant produces fruits that exhibit a relatively narrow size range; the fruit length varies from a minimum of 0.7 cm to a maximum of 0.8 cm, with an average length of approximately 0.75 cm.

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit length max:

0.8 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.75 cm

Fruit length min:

0.7 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Ligularia hodgsonii has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Galacturonic acid, Pyrrolizidine alkaloid, arabinose, galactose, glucose.

Galacturonic acid

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Pyrrolizidine alkaloid

1. Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology

arabinose

1. International journal of molecular sciences

galactose

1. International journal of molecular sciences

glucose

1. International journal of molecular sciences

glucuronic acid

1. International journal of molecular sciences

mannose

1. International journal of molecular sciences

rhamnose

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Conditions

Ligularia hodgsonii has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include antioxidant, hypoglycemic.

Antioxidant

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Hypoglycemic

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Preparations

Ligularia hodgsonii has 3 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Ligularia hodgsonii polysaccharides, clivorine, dialyzed Ligularia hodgsonii polysaccharides.

Ligularia hodgsonii polysaccharides

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Clivorine

1. Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology

Dialyzed ligularia hodgsonii polysaccharides

1. International journal of molecular sciences