Lobelia sessilifolia

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Dortmanna sessilifolia
• Lobelia sessilifolia var. latifolia
• Lobelia sessilifolia f. leuantha
• Lobelia saligna

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Lobelia sessilifolia, is a member of the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Asterales and the family Campanulaceae. It belongs to the genus Lobelia, which characterizes its specific taxonomic identity.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across the northern and eastern reaches of the Asian continent. Within the vast region of Siberia, it can be found specifically in the areas of Chitá and Yakutiya. Moving eastward, the species is also well-established throughout the Russian Far East. Its presence is documented in the Amur region and extends further to the Kamchatka Peninsula. Additionally, the plant is known to inhabit the Khabarovsk territory within the same eastern zone.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Lobelia sessilifolia is defined by its preference for highly saturated environments, typically thriving in habitats such as lakes, meadows, and swamps. This species is specifically adapted to wet conditions, occupying niches where water is consistently present in the soil or surrounding landscape. Geographically, its distribution is tied to specific altitudinal gradients, occurring within an elevational range that spans from a minimum of 1400 m AMSL to a maximum of 2300 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2300 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1400 m AMSL

Habitat :

lakes, meadows: wet, swamps

Life history

The life history of Lobelia sessilifolia is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, meaning it persists through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its life cycle in a single year. In terms of its structural adaptation to environmental conditions, the species functions as a hemicryptophyte, a life form where the perennating buds are located at the soil surface, typically protected by leaf litter or organic debris during unfavorable periods. This hemicryptophytic growth habit allows the plant to survive seasonal changes and regrow from its base, contributing to its long-term survival and establishment within its specific ecological niche.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Lobelia sessilifolia is characterized by a non-woody, herbaceous growth form, functioning as both a herb and a forb. This species is a self-supporting plant that does not exhibit climbing behavior, such as a vine or liana, nor does it function as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a terrestrial existence across aquatic, semiaquatic, and terrestrial habitats. In terms of stature, the plant is relatively small, with a height ranging from a minimum of 0.25 m to a maximum of 1 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height min:

0.25 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Lobelia sessilifolia is characterized by its utilization of the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic strategy among most temperate and moist-habitat herbaceous plants. In this pathway, the initial fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide occurs via the enzyme RuBisCO, which combines CO2 with ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate to form 3-phosphoglycerate. This process occurs within the mesophyll cells, where the plant manages gas exchange through its stomata to balance the intake of carbon for glucose synthesis against the loss of water through transpiration. As a C3 plant, Lobelia sessilifolia is physiologically adapted to environments where moisture is relatively available, as it does not possess the specialized CO2-concentrating mechanisms found in C4 or CAM species, making it more susceptible to photorespiration under high-temperature or high-light stress conditions.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Lobelia sessilifolia is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering window and the production of extremely lightweight seeds. The plant's flowering period typically begins in July and concludes in August, marking its primary reproductive phase. During this time, it produces seeds that are remarkably small in scale; the seed mass exhibits significant variation, with a minimum recorded value of 0.00002 g, a mean mass of 0.00012 g, and a maximum mass reaching up to 0.00022 g.

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Seed mass max:

0.00022 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00012 g

Seed mass min:

2e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Lobelia sessilifolia has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, coumarin.

Flavonoids

1. ACS omega

coumarin

1. ACS omega

Activities

Lobelia sessilifolia has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic.

Antidiabetic

1. ACS omega