Ligularia macrophylla

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cineraria macrophylla
• Ligularia ledebourii
• Senecillis macrophylla
• Senecio ledebourii

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 and is specifically identified by the genus Ligularia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution across several key regions in Asia. Within Central Asia, its presence is recorded in both Kazakhstan and Kirgizstan. It can also be found in the Xinjiang region of China. Additionally, its range extends into the Indian Subcontinent, specifically within Pakistan. These locations highlight the varied environmental niches this species inhabits across the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Ligularia macrophylla is characterized by its ability to thrive across diverse landscapes, ranging from forest edges and hills to meadows and shrubberies. It exhibits a notable adaptability to various environmental conditions, including mountain terrains and even saline places, provided there is sufficient moisture, as it frequently occupies wet habitats. This species is distributed across a significant altitudinal gradient, with an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 700 m AMSL and extends to a maximum of 2900 m AMSL, maintaining a mean elevation of approximately 1800 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2900 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

700 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest edges, hills, meadows: wet, mountains, saline places, shrubberies

Life history

The life history of Ligularia macrophylla is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. As a perennial, it avoids the complete die-back associated with annuals, instead focusing its energy on establishing robust root systems and large, leafy structures that can survive periods of dormancy. This lifecycle enables the plant to develop significant biomass over time, often forming dense colonies in its preferred shaded, moist habitats. Its long-term survival strategy relies on the ability to regrow from its perennial structures each spring, utilizing stored nutrients to produce its characteristic large leaves and eventual flowering stalks, ensuring a continuous presence within its ecological niche.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ligularia macrophylla is characterized by a herbaceous growth form, existing as both a herb and a forb. It is a non-woody plant that functions as a self-supporting species rather than a climber. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits a significant range in height, with minimum measurements starting at 0.35 m and reaching a maximum height of up to 1.8 m.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

herb

Plant height max:

1.8 m

Plant height min:

0.35 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ligularia macrophylla is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering cycle and the production of highly uniform seeds. The plant enters its flowering period in July and continues through August, marking a concentrated reproductive window during the height of summer. The resulting seeds are remarkably consistent in their physical properties, exhibiting no variation in mass; the seed mass is measured at a mean, maximum, and minimum of exactly 0.00164 g. This uniformity in seed size suggests a highly stabilized reproductive output within the species.

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Seed mass mean:

0.00164 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Ligularia macrophylla has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, rhizome.

Root

1. Die Pharmazie
2. Journal of natural products

Rhizome

1. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Ligularia macrophylla has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, BETA-SITOSTEROL, Lupeol, Mono-(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate, kaempferol.

4-hydroxybenzaldehyde

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Lupeol

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Mono-(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

kaempferol

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Preparations

Ligularia macrophylla has 1 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include roots.

Roots

1. Die Pharmazie