Lomelosia stellata

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Asterocephalus monspeliensis
• Scabiosa monspeliensis
• Scabiosa hispanica
• Scabiosa stellata
• Scabiosa stellata var. monspeliensis
• Trochocephalus stellatus
• Scabiosa stellata subsp. monspeliensis
• Asterocephalus stellatus
• Trochocephalus monspeliensis
• Succisa stellata
• Scabiosa lobata
• Scabiosa jacquinii
• Scabiosa monspeliensis var. subacaulis
• Scabiosa stellata subsp. insularis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae, the order Dipsacales, and the family Caprifoliaceae. Within this hierarchical structure, it is identified by the genus Lomelosia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution across parts of the Mediterranean region. In Southwestern Europe, it can be found growing in France, Portugal, and Spain. Its range also extends into Northern Africa, where it is present in Algeria. Additionally, the species is documented within the borders of Libya. Collectively, these locations highlight its presence across diverse coastal and continental landscapes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Lomelosia stellata is characterized by an annual lifecycle, completing its entire developmental process from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, it follows a strategic survival pattern where the plant survives the unfavorable periods primarily in the form of seeds, which remain dormant in the soil until conditions become suitable for growth. This life form is consistent across its developmental stages, functioning as a therophyte that avoids seasonal stress by bypassing the vegetative stage during harsh periods, ensuring the continuation of its lineage through rapid seasonal growth and prolific seed dispersal.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Lomelosia stellata is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb, exhibiting a structure that is fundamentally non-woody. It functions as a self-supporting climber, possessing the ability to grow without being an obligatory vine or liana, as it can maintain a self-supporting stature. In terms of its ecological habitat and life strategy, the plant is classified as terrestrial rather than aquatic or semiaquatic, and it exists as an independent organism rather than a parasite. Furthermore, it is a terrestrial species rather than an epiphyte, maintaining its development within soil-based environments.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Lomelosia stellata is primarily characterized by its carbon assimilation process, as it utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway. In this metabolic framework, the initial fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide occurs through the enzyme RuBisCO, which catalyzes the carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate to form 3-phosphoglycerate. This process typically occurs within the mesophyll cells and is highly dependent on environmental factors such as light intensity, temperature, and water availability, which influence the efficiency of gas exchange through the stomata. As a C3 plant, its physiological performance is optimized in temperate or moderately moist environments where the energetic costs of carbon fixation are balanced against the potential for photorespiration.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Lomelosia stellata is characterized by specific seed morphologies and diverse dispersal strategies. The seeds produced by this species exhibit a relatively consistent mass, with a recorded mean seed mass of 0.017305 g. The individual seed weights vary within a narrow range, reaching a maximum of 0.01941 g and a minimum of 0.0152 g. Regarding the movement of progeny away from the parent plant, the species utilizes a multifaceted dispersal syndrome; while it is primarily identified as anemochorous, its reproductive success is supported by a combination of zoochorous, autochorous, hydrochorous, and unspecialized dispersal mechanisms.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Seed mass max:

0.01941 g

Seed mass mean:

0.017305 g

Seed mass min:

0.0152 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Lomelosia stellata has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 4-O-Caffeoylquinic acid, Isoorientin.

4-O-Caffeoylquinic acid

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Isoorientin

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Lomelosia stellata has 3 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Cytotoxic.

Antibacterial

1. Fitoterapia

Antioxidant

1. Fitoterapia

Cytotoxic

1. Fitoterapia

Preparations

Lomelosia stellata has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include 70% ethanol extract.

70% ethanol extract

1. Fitoterapia