Marrubium astracanicum

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is further organized into the order Lamiales and the family Lamiaceae. Finally, it is identified by the specific genus Marrubium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Marrubium astracanicum, exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several key regions. Within the Caucasus, its presence is primarily noted in the Transcaucasus area. Its range extends significantly into Western Asia, where it can be found in Iran. Furthermore, the species is distributed throughout the territory of Iraq. Finally, it is also commonly documented across the landscapes of Türkiye.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Marrubium astracanicum is defined by its adaptation to specific high-altitude and semi-arid environments, primarily thriving within mountainous regions and steppe ecosystems. It occupies open, sun-exposed landscapes where the soil structure and climatic conditions support its specialized growth patterns. By inhabiting these steppe and mountain habitats, the plant is adapted to withstand the seasonal fluctuations in temperature and moisture characteristic of these terrains, often competing effectively in sparse vegetation zones where light availability is high.

Habitat :

mountains, steppe

Life history

The life history of Marrubium astracanicum is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, demonstrating a long-term survival strategy through multiple growing seasons. Structurally, the species is defined as a hemicryptophyte, a life form in which the perennating buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or surface debris during unfavorable conditions. This hemicryptophytic nature allows the plant to endure seasonal environmental shifts, maintaining its biological presence across various cycles.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Marrubium astracanicum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, manifesting as both a general herb and a specific forb. The plant typically reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 0.4 m. Its shoots exhibit an ascending orientation and are self-supporting in nature, rather than being climbers. As an independent organism, it does not function as a parasite and maintains a terrestrial lifestyle.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.4 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Marrubium astracanicum is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering window and the production of highly uniform seeds. The flowering period typically commences in June and reaches its conclusion in July, though the timing can exhibit variability throughout the year. Once fertilization occurs, the plant produces seeds with a remarkably consistent mass; the seed mass is precisely measured at 0.00125 g, a value that serves as both the mean, the minimum, and the maximum recorded mass for the species. This uniformity in seed weight suggests a highly standardized reproductive output during its active cycle.

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Jul

Seed mass mean:

0.00125 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Marrubium astracanicum has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antinociceptive.

Antinociceptive

1. Avicenna journal of phytomedicine

Conditions

Marrubium astracanicum has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include arthritis, colic, gout, joint pain.

Arthritis

1. Avicenna journal of phytomedicine

Colic

1. Avicenna journal of phytomedicine

Gout

1. Avicenna journal of phytomedicine

Joint pain

1. Avicenna journal of phytomedicine