city goosefoot

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• city goosefoot
• upright goosefoot
• urban goosefoot

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Anserina urbica
• Atriplex urbica
• Chenopodium urbicum var. chrysomelanospermum
• Oxybasis urbica subsp. rhombifolia
• Chenopodium urbicum proles microspermum
• Chenopodium urbicum var. deltoideum
• Chenopodium urbicum
• Chenopodium deltoideum
• Chenopodium rhombifolium
• Chenopodium melanospermum
• Chenopodium microspermum
• Vulvaria deltoidea
• Chenopodium chrysomelanospermum
• Chenopodium urbicum var. microspermum
• Chenopodium urbicum var. melanospermum
• Chenopodium urbicum var. vulgare
• Blitum urbicum
• Chenopodium urbicum subsp. deltoideum
• Oxybasis rhombifolia

Regional and Traditional Names

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. It is classified within the order Caryophyllales and the family Amaranthaceae. Ultimately, Oxybasis urbica is identified by the genus Oxybasis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Oxybasis urbica, is primarily distributed across several regions within Northern Europe. Its presence is well-documented throughout the Scandinavian Peninsula, spanning across Norway and Sweden. Additionally, the species can be found growing in the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. Further west, the plant extends its range to include the various landscapes of Great Britain. Finally, its geographical footprint reaches as far east as Finland, completing its northern European distribution.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Oxybasis urbica is characterized by its ability to colonize disturbed environments, frequently establishing itself in anthropogenic habitats such as dumps and along roadsides. This species demonstrates a broad altitudinal tolerance, capable of thriving across a significant vertical gradient that begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends to a maximum elevation of 1600 m AMSL. Its preference for nutrient-rich or disturbed sites suggests an ecological niche suited to ruderal conditions where competition from stable forest or grassland communities is minimized.

Elevational range max:

1600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

dump, roadsides

Life history

The life history of Oxybasis urbica is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning it completes its entire developmental process from germination to seed production within a single growing season. Functionally, the plant is classified as a therophyte, a life form defined by its strategy of surviving unfavorable environmental conditions through the production of seeds rather than persistent vegetative structures. As a therophyte, it avoids seasonal stress by existing primarily in a dormant seed state, rapidly emerging to exploit favorable moisture and temperature conditions before completing its reproductive cycle and dying off at the end of the season.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Oxybasis urbica is characterized by a non-woody, herbaceous growth form, specifically classified as a forb. As an independent species, it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a terrestrial existence. The plant exhibits an erect shoot orientation and is entirely self-supporting, lacking any climbing or vining tendencies. In terms of stature, it is a relatively low-growing species with a plant height that ranges from a minimum of 0.25 m to a maximum of 1 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 0.38 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.38 m

Plant height min:

0.25 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Oxybasis urbica is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a carbon fixation process optimized for environments where water is relatively available and temperatures are moderate. The plant exhibits a distinct leaf morphology, featuring an alternate leaf arrangement that maximizes light interception across its structure. The foliage displays an elliptic form, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 12 cm, while the width varies from 3 cm to 12 cm, resulting in a mean leaf size of approximately 6.43555 cm². Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 136.1 cm²/g, a physiological metric that reflects its leaf density and resource allocation strategy regarding light capture and metabolic efficiency.

Leaf arrangement :

alternate

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

12 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf size mean:

6.43555 cm²

Leaf width max:

12 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

136.1 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Oxybasis urbica is characterized by a sexual process involving bisexual flowers, although self-fertilization is notably absent. The flowering period typically begins in July and concludes in September. Pollination is achieved through an abiotic syndrome, specifically utilizing wind as the primary mechanism for pollen transfer. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces very small seeds, with a mean seed mass of 0.000385 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.00042 g to a maximum of 0.00042 g, and seed widths varying between 0.5 mm and 1 mm. Dispersal of these seeds is facilitated by a hydrochorous syndrome, meaning they are dispersed by water.

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Sep

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.00042 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000385 g

Seed width max:

1 mm

Seed width min:

0.5 mm

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Oxybasis urbica has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, seed.

Root

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Seed

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Activities

Oxybasis urbica has 2 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Cytotoxic.

Antioxidant

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Cytotoxic

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences