Bushy fleabane

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Bushy fleabane

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Neurolaena lobata var. indivisa
• Calea suriani
• Conyza lobata
• Conyza symphytifolia
• Critonia chrysocephala
• Eupatorium chrysocephalum
• Eupatorium valverdeanum
• Neurolaena integrifolia
• Neurolaena suriani
• Pluchea symphytifolia
• Calea lobata
• Neurolaena fulva

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Neurolaena lobata, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Asterales and the family Asteraceae. Ultimately, it is categorized under the genus Neurolaena.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide distribution across several key regions of the Pacific Ocean. In the Southwestern Pacific, its presence is noted in the Gilbert Islands and the Phoenix Islands. Moving into the South-Central Pacific, it can also be found within the Society Islands. The Northwestern Pacific also serves as a significant habitat, specifically across the Caroline Islands. Finally, its range extends to include the Mariana Islands, completing its broad oceanic spread.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Neurolaena lobata is characterized by its presence within forest habitats, where it thrives under the specific environmental conditions provided by these ecosystems. This species exhibits a broad vertical distribution across various altitudinal gradients, occupying a diverse range of elevations. Its ecological niche extends from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1950 m AMSL, allowing it to inhabit both lowland and montane forest environments.

Elevational range max:

1950 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest

Life history

The life history of Neurolaena lobata is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle in a single year. As a perennial, the plant establishes a robust foundation that enables it to endure seasonal fluctuations and re-emerge to continue its reproductive and vegetative processes over an extended period. This long-term survival strategy facilitates the gradual accumulation of biomass and the development of complex structural features, contributing to its stability within its natural habitat.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Neurolaena lobata is characterized by a growth form that can be classified as both a shrub and a forb, exhibiting a variable degree of woodiness. This plant typically reaches a height with a mean of approximately 2.5 m. It is a terrestrial species, meaning it is neither aquatic nor epiphytic, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite. In terms of its structural habit, it is described as self-supporting, acting as both an obligatory and facultative self-supporting plant without the need to climb as a liana or vine.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

2.5 m

Woodiness :

variable

Physiology

The physiology of Neurolaena lobata is characterized by complex metabolic processes geared toward survival in its specific ecological niche, including specialized photosynthetic pathways and nutrient acquisition strategies. Its metabolic framework involves the processing of organic compounds to support vegetative growth and reproductive cycles, driven by enzymatic activities that facilitate cellular respiration and structural development. In terms of nutrient cycling and soil interaction, the plant does not possess the symbiotic mechanisms required to function as a nitrogen fixer; consequently, it lacks the specialized root nodules containing diazotrophic bacteria necessary for converting atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms. This absence of nitrogen-fixing capabilities means its physiological nitrogen requirements must be met through the uptake of nitrates or ammonium present in the substrate via its root system.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Neurolaeana lobata is characterized by the production of highly diminutive seeds that exhibit significant variability in size. On average, the seed mass of this species is approximately 0.00051 g, though individual specimens can range from a minimum of 0.00002 g to a maximum of 0.001 g. This wide distribution in seed mass suggests a diverse reproductive strategy involving varying levels of nutrient allocation per propagule.

Seed mass max:

0.001 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00051 g

Seed mass min:

2e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Neurolaena lobata has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Journal of helminthology

Chemicals

Neurolaena lobata has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include FAT, Germacranolide, LOBATIN B, Lobatin A, Neurolenin A.

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

Germacranolide

1. Planta medica

LOBATIN B

1. Dr. Duke

Lobatin A

1. Dr. Duke

Neurolenin A

1. Dr. Duke

Neurolenin B

1. Dr. Duke

acetic acid

1. Dr. Duke

flavonols

1. Planta medica

Activities

Neurolaena lobata has 19 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Acidulant, Antimalarial, Antiotitic, Antiplasmodial.

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Antimalarial

1. Dr. Duke

Antiotitic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiplasmodial

1. Dr. Duke

Antisalmonella

1. Dr. Duke

Antisecretory

1. Planta medica

Antivaginitic

1. Dr. Duke

Expectorant

1. Dr. Duke

Fungicide

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Neurolaena lobata has 8 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Brugia pahangi, HIV, Plasmodium falciparum, breast cancer, inflammation.

Brugia pahangi

1. Journal of helminthology

Hiv

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Plasmodium falciparum

1. Planta medica

Breast cancer

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Inflammation

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Nociception

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Pain

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Type 2 diabetes

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Preparations

Neurolaena lobata has 11 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include An apolar extract, Aqueous and lipophilic extracts, aqueous extract, aqueous extracts, dichloromethane extract.

An apolar extract

1. Cancer letters

Aqueous and lipophilic extracts

1. Planta medica

Aqueous extract

1. Planta medica

Aqueous extracts

1. Planta medica

Dichloromethane extract

1. International journal of oncology

Ethanol extract

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Ethanol extract of neurolaena lobata

1. Journal of helminthology

Ethanol extract of leaves of neurolaena lobata

1. Journal of helminthology

Hexane and ethanol extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Lipophilic extract

1. Planta medica