lesser burnet-saxifrage

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• lesser burnet-saxifrage
• solid-stem burnet-saxifrage
• Burnet-Saxifrage
• pimpinella
• burnet saxifrage

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Apium saxifragum
• Tragoselinum saxifragum
• Carum saxifraga

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 and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Apiales and the family Apiaceae. Finally, it is specifically identified by the genus Pimpinella.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern throughout the northern regions of Europe. It can be found growing naturally across the coastal and inland landscapes of Denmark. Its presence extends further north into the territories of Norway and Finland. Additionally, the species is well-established within the British Isles, specifically in Great Britain and Ireland. Together, these locations define its primary geographical range within the northern continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pimpinella saxifraga is characterized by its ability to thrive in diverse and often transitional environments, ranging from disturbed lowland areas to high-altitude terrains. It is commonly found inhabiting crop fields and forest edges, where it benefits from the varying light availability and soil compositions found at the boundaries of different ecosystems. Furthermore, the species demonstrates significant ecological plasticity by colonizing mountainous regions, allowing it to adapt to the cooler temperatures and rugged topographical features typical of alpine or sub-alpine zones. This wide distribution across varied landscapes suggests a robust capacity to occupy various niches within temperate and montane ecosystems.

Habitat :

crop fields, forest edges, mountains

Life history

The life history of Pimpinella saxifraga is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennable buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or snow during unfavorable conditions. The species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage during its dormant period to conserve energy and withstand seasonal shifts. This combination of a perennial lifecycle, a hemicryptophytic life form, and deciduous behavior dictates its survival strategy within its natural habitat.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pimpinella saxifraga is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. This self-supporting plant typically exhibits a terrestrial habit, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. In terms of stature, it is a relatively low-growing species with a plant height that ranges from a minimum of 0.15 m to a maximum of 0.9 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 0.413 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:

0.413 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pimpinella saxifraga is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which is typical for many temperate herbaceous species operating under standard atmospheric conditions. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, relying entirely on autotrophic processes and soil-based nutrient uptake rather than the capture of prey. Morphologically, its foliage displays a mean leaf size of approximately 26.095 cm², a dimension that contributes to its overall surface area for light interception. Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 157.97 cm²/g, reflecting the structural relationship between its leaf mass and its surface area, which is an important indicator of its resource acquisition efficiency and leaf thickness.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

26.095 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

157.97 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pimpinella saxifraga is characterized by a sexual reproductive cycle involving biotic pollination and specialized seed dispersal. The flowering period typically begins in June and concludes in August. During this time, the plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically attracting insects such as bees to facilitate fertilization; notably, the capacity for self-fertilization is present within the species. Following successful pollination, the plant produces dry fruits. The resulting seeds are quite small, with a mean mass of approximately 0.001161375 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.00107 g to a maximum of 0.00169 g) and a consistent seed volume of 0.38 mm³. These seeds are dispersed via an anemochorous syndrome, relying on wind for movement. Furthermore, asexual reproduction is absent in this species, making sexual processes the primary means of propagation.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit dryness :

dry

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.00169 g

Seed mass mean:

0.001161375 g

Seed mass min:

0.00107 g

Seed volume max:

0.38 mm³

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Pimpinella saxifraga has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant.

Antibacterial

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Pimpinella saxifraga has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, diuresis, hypertension, respiratory diseases.

Cancer

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Diuresis

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Hypertension

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Respiratory diseases

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)