wild wormwood

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Santa-Maria
• Santa Maria Feverfew
• Whitehead
• bitterweed
• carrot-grass
• false ragweed
• feverfew
• parthenium-weed
• ragweed parthenium
• whitetop
• Congress Grass
• Whitetop Weed
• famine weed
• parthenium weed

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Argyrochaeta bipinnatifida
• Echetrosis pentasperma
• Parthenium lobatum
• Parthenium pinnatifidum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and order Asterales, it is further categorized into the family Asteraceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Parthenium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution that spans multiple continents and climate zones. In Middle Europe, its presence can be documented in countries such as Germany and Poland. Moving toward the Atlantic, it is also found within the Macaronesian region, specifically in Cape Verde. Its range extends into Northeast Tropical Africa, where it inhabits parts of Eritrea. Additionally, the species is widely distributed across the Ethiopian highlands.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Parthenium hysterophorus is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse environments, particularly within anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica) and open field landscapes (Campo Limpo). This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, allowing it to colonize a vast range of topographical settings. It can be found at sea level, with an elevational range starting at 0 m AMSL, and extends to significant heights reaching a maximum of 3500 m AMSL. The mean elevation for its occurrence is approximately 1697.5 m AMSL, reflecting its capacity to thrive in both lowland disturbed sites and high-altitude ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

3500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1697.5 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Campo Limpo

Genetics

The genetics of Parthenium hysterophorus are characterized by specific chromosomal configurations and varying ploidy levels that influence its biological robustness. The plant exhibits a complex chromosomal profile with recorded chromosome numbers of 18, 34, and 36, reflecting a degree of genomic variation within different populations or stages of development. Despite this variability in numerical counts, the primary ploidy level identified is 2, indicating a predominantly diploid nature in its fundamental genetic structure.

Chromosome number :

18, 34 36

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Parthenium hysterophorus is characterized by its status as an annual plant, completing its entire biological cycle within a single growing season through rapid growth and prolific seed production. Functioning as a therophyte, it survives unfavorable environmental conditions primarily through the production of numerous hardy seeds rather than persistent vegetative structures above ground. This life strategy allows the species to colonize disturbed habitats quickly, utilizing its ephemeral nature to establish dominance before transitioning from seedling development to flowering and eventual senescence.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Parthenium hysterophorus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. This plant is strictly terrestrial, functioning as an independent organism rather than an epiphyte or parasite. It is a self-supporting species, lacking any climbing or vine-like tendencies. In terms of stature, it exhibits a plant height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 2 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Parthenium hysterophorus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its metabolic processes and energy production. The vegetative growth is heavily dependent on its leaf morphology, which exhibits significant variability in dimensions. The leaves typically maintain a mean length of 14.5 cm, though they can range from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum length of 20 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width shows a broad spectrum, with a minimum width of 2 cm, a mean width of 8.5 cm, and a maximum width reaching up to 11 cm. This range in leaf size and the specific photosynthetic mechanism support its efficient biomass accumulation and adaptive capacity in diverse environments.

Leaf length max:

20 cm

Leaf length mean:

14.5 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf width max:

11 cm

Leaf width mean:

8.5 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Parthenium hysterophorus is characterized by a prolific flowering cycle and the production of specialized fruit structures. The plant typically enters its flowering stage in July and continues through to November, though the timing can be variable. The flowers are distinctly white in color. Following pollination, the plant produces fruit in the form of an achene, which is an indehiscent type, meaning it does not split open at maturity to release its contents. These fruits are quite small, with a mean length of 0.25 cm, ranging from a minimum of 0.2 cm to a maximum of 0.25 cm. The seeds contained within are extremely lightweight, possessing a mean mass of $6 \times 10^{-4}$ g, with individual seed masses ranging from a minimum of 0.00042 g to a maximum of 0.00098 g.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Flower colour :

white

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Nov

Fruit length max:

0.25 cm

Fruit length min:

0.2 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Seed mass max:

0.00098 g

Seed mass mean:

6e-04 g

Seed mass min:

0.00042 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Parthenium hysterophorus has 4 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, flower, root, stem.

Leaf

1. Revista de biologia tropical
2. BioMed research international

Flower

1. BioMed research international

Root

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Stem

1. BioMed research international

Chemicals

Parthenium hysterophorus has 14 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Parthenin, polyphenols, Terpenes, Ambrosin, Betulin.

Parthenin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current topics in medicinal chemistry
3. Pest management science
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

polyphenols

1. Current topics in medicinal chemistry
2. Revista de biologia tropical
3. BioMed research international

Terpenes

1. Current topics in medicinal chemistry
2. BioMed research international

Ambrosin

1. Dr. Duke

Betulin

1. Dr. Duke

Cardiac Glycosides

1. BioMed research international

Dihydroisoparthenin

1. Dr. Duke

Flavonoids

1. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Isoguaiene

1. Dr. Duke

Parthenicin

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Parthenium hysterophorus has 22 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Adrenergic-Blocker, Allelopathic, Allergenic, Analgesic, AntiHIV.

Adrenergic-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

Allelopathic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antidermatotic

1. Dr. Duke

Antifeedant

1. Dr. Duke

Antiflu

1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Parthenium hysterophorus has 12 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include dermatitis, C. parapsilosis, Citrobacter, amoebic dysentery, anti-malarial.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations