Ligularia nelumbifolia

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Senecillis nelumbifolia
• Senecio moisoni
• Senecio nelumbifolius

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 the genus Ligularia. Specifically, its scientific identity is defined as Ligularia nelumbifolia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily found across specific regions of China. Its natural habitat extends through the South-Central part of the country. Additionally, the species can be located within the North-Central areas of China. These two distinct zones represent its core geographical distribution. Consequently, the plant thrives in these particular Chinese territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Ligularia nelumbifolia is characterized by its specific distribution within high-altitude montane environments, where it occupies a distinct vertical niche. This species thrives across a substantial altitudinal gradient, ranging from a minimum elevation of 2350 m AMSL to a maximum of 3900 m AMSL. Within this ecological range, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 3125 m AMSL, indicating a strong preference for mid-to-high alpine or subalpine zones. These elevations typically subject the plant to cooler temperatures and specific moisture regimes characteristic of high-mountain ecosystems, which dictate its specialized habitat requirements and survival strategies.

Elevational range max:

3900 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

3125 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

2350 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Ligularia nelumbifolia is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. Throughout its lifecycle, the plant establishes a robust presence in its natural habitat, typically recurring annually from its established root system. As a perennial species, it undergoes seasonal cycles of growth and dormancy, often producing large, distinctive foliage that characterizes its vegetative stage before transitioning into its reproductive phase. This long-term survival strategy enables the plant to withstand environmental fluctuations and invest energy into sustained development and eventual flowering.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ligularia nelumbiifolia is characterized by its classification as a herb, exhibiting a growth form consistent with a non-woody herb. It does not function as a climber, possessing no obligatory, facultative, or self-supporting climbing mechanisms, and instead maintains a stable, herbaceous structure throughout its development.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

herb

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ligularia nelumbiifolia is characterized by significant morphological plasticity in its foliar structures, which play a critical role in its photosynthetic capacity and environmental adaptation. The leaf dimensions exhibit a wide range of variability, reflecting dynamic growth patterns influenced by light availability and hydration levels. The leaves typically maintain a mean length of 18.5 cm, though they can range from a minimum of 7 cm to a maximum of 30 cm. This longitudinal variation is accompanied by substantial lateral expansion, with leaf widths fluctuating between a minimum of 13 cm and a maximum of 38 cm, resulting in a mean width of 25.5 cm. Such expansive surface areas facilitate efficient gas exchange and light interception, supporting the metabolic requirements of the plant through optimized carbon assimilation within its large, cordate-shaped foliage.

Leaf length max:

30 cm

Leaf length mean:

18.5 cm

Leaf length min:

7 cm

Leaf width max:

38 cm

Leaf width mean:

25.5 cm

Leaf width min:

13 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Ligularia nelumbifolia has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic.

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of natural products