Pentanema britannica

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Inula chinensis
• Inula britannica var. sericans
• Inula dichotoma
• Inula encelioides
• Inula micranthos
• Inula britannica var. uniflora
• Inula microcephala
• Inula oetteliana
• Inula britannica var. intermedia
• Inula britannica var. oelandica
• Inula britannica subsp. latifolia
• Conyza britannica
• Helenium britannica
• Inula britannica subsp. hispanica
• Aster britannica
• Inula britannica var. comosa
• Inula britannica f. sublanata
• Inula britannica var. angustifolia
• Inula britannica var. viridis
• Inula britannica var. stricta
• Inula hispanica
• Inula britannica var. microcephala
• Inula comosa
• Inula britannica var. eglandulosa
• Inula britannica var. longilepis
• Aster orientalis
• Helenium macrolepis
• Helenium repandum
• Inula britannica var. tymiensis
• Inula britannica var. ramosissima
• Inula britannica var. sublanata
• Inula britannica
• Inula japonica var. linariifolia

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asterales. Finally, it is a member of the family Asteraceae and falls under the genus Pentanema.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern focused primarily across Northern Europe. It can be found growing within the coastal and inland regions of Denmark. Additionally, the species is well-established throughout the landscapes of Finland and Norway. Its presence extends westward to include the territories of Great Britain and Ireland. Consequently, its geographical range is strictly limited to these particular northern territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pentaema britannica is characterized by its remarkable adaptability across a diverse range of environmental landscapes and soil compositions. This species exhibits a broad ecological amplitude, thriving in various settings ranging from dense forests and forest edges to open, sun-exposed habitats such as meadows and steppes. Its presence is noted in transitional zones like cut-over forests and near water-rich ecosystems, including the banks of rivers and lakes. Furthermore, the plant demonstrates significant resilience to varying moisture levels and substrate types, successfully colonizing arid or well-drained environments such as sand and semi-deserts, as well as higher-altitude regions within mountainous terrains.

Habitat :

cut-over forest, forest, forest edges, lakes, meadows, mountains, rivers, sand, semidesert, steppe

Life history

The life history of Pentaemum britannica is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a hemicryptophyte, a life form where the perennating buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or surface debris. Additionally, the plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage during unfavorable seasonal periods as part of its survival strategy.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pentaema britannica is characterized by a non-woody growth form, functioning primarily as a herb and a forb. As a self-supporting plant, it does not exhibit climbing behavior such as a vine or liana, nor does it act as an epiphyte or a parasite, maintaining an independent and terrestrial existence. The plant's physical stature varies in height, with a minimum measurement of 0.15 m, a maximum of 0.9 m, and an average height of approximately 0.35 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.9 m

Plant height mean:

0.35 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pentaema britannica is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. Its vegetative structure features lanceolate leaves with an entire margin and lacks both thorns and spines. The foliage exhibits a mean leaf size of 25.75 cm², which, when integrated with its biomass density, results in a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 274.35 cm²/g. Furthermore, the plant is classified as non-carnivorous, relying on standard nutrient uptake through its root system rather than supplemental nitrogen acquisition from prey.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

lanceolate

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf size mean:

25.75 cm²

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

274.35 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pentaema britannica is characterized by a sexual process through bisexual flowers, with asexual reproduction being entirely absent. The flowering period typically commences in July and concludes in September. The pollination process is categorized as biotic, specifically relying on an insect pollination syndrome to facilitate fertilization, which is notably present within the species. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces fruit in the form of an achene. These fruits are indehiscent, meaning they do not split open at maturity to release seeds. The resulting seeds are extremely lightweight, with a mean mass of 0.0001195 g and a recorded mass range between 0.0001195 g and 0.000152 g. For the spread of the next generation, the plant utilizes an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on wind to transport its minute seeds.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.000152 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0001195 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Pentanema britannica has 1 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower.

Flower

1. Natural product communications
2. Bioorganic chemistry
3. Anticancer research
4. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics

Chemicals

Pentanema britannica has 15 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 1-O-Acetylbritannilactone, Eupatolide, Flavonoids, CHLOROGENIC ACID, polyphenols.

1-O-Acetylbritannilactone

1. Natural product communications
2. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry
3. Archives of pharmacal research
4. European journal of medicinal chemistry

Eupatolide

1. European journal of pharmacology
2. Oncology letters
3. Oncology reports
4. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Flavonoids

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

polyphenols

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics

1,6-O,O-diacetylbritannilactone

1. Natural product communications

Cynarine

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Ivangustin

1. Natural product communications

Lignan

1. Journal of applied microbiology

NEOBRITANNILACTONE B

1. Archives of pharmacal research

Activities

Pentanema britannica has 3 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Cytotoxic.

Antimicrobial

1. Journal of applied microbiology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics

Cytotoxic

1. Natural product communications

Preparations

Pentanema britannica has 7 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include IB extract, ethanol, eupatolide (EuTL), extracts, herb mixture.

Ib extract

1. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics

Ethanol

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Eupatolide (eutl)

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Extracts

1. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry

Herb mixture

1. Journal of applied microbiology

Total flavonoid extracts (tfes)

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Water

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine