Wingstem Camphorweed

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Wingstem Camphorweed

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Gnaphalium suaveolens
• Pluchea tweediei
• Conyza quitoc
• Pluchea suaveolens
• Placus suaveolens
• Pluchea quitoc
• Conyza sagittalis
• Conyza brasiliensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

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

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning several different continents and regions. In Eastern Asia, its presence is specifically noted in Taiwan. Moving toward the Indian Subcontinent, the species can be found growing in India. Its range extends into the Southeastern United States, specifically within the states of Alabama and Florida. Finally, the plant is also distributed throughout the Caribbean, including Trinidad and Tobago.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pluchea sagittalis is characterized by its adaptability to diverse environments across a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 1100 m AMSL. This species demonstrates significant ecological plasticity, thriving in varied habitats including anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), high-altitude grasslands (Campo de Altitude), open grasslands (Campo Limpo), and coastal restinga ecosystems. This distribution allows the plant to occupy a wide range of ecological niches, from disturbed human-impacted landscapes to specialized natural formations.

Elevational range max:

1100 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Campo de Altitude, Campo Limpo, Restinga

Life history

The life history of Pluchea sagittalis is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural classification and survival strategy, the plant is categorized as a phanerophyte, specifically manifesting as a phanerophyte in its overall life form. This classification indicates that its perennating buds are borne on aerial shoots above the ground, ensuring its continued existence through various seasonal cycles.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pluchea sagittalis is characterized by a growth form primarily classified as a non-woody herb or forb. As a self-supporting plant, it does not exhibit climbing tendencies, functioning neither as a liana nor a vine, and it maintains a stable structure without the need for external support. In terms of its ecological habit, the species is terrestrial in nature, rather than being an epiphyte (whether holoepiphyte, hemiepiphyte, or facultative) or an aquatic plant, though it can exist in various moisture gradients. Furthermore, it is an independent organism that does not function as a parasite, maintaining its own nutritional processes without being obligatory or facultative upon a host.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Pluchea sagittalis has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Taraxasterol, pseudo-Taraxasterol.

Flavonoids

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Taraxasterol

1. Pharmacognosy research

pseudo-Taraxasterol

1. Pharmacognosy research

Activities

Pluchea sagittalis has 4 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antiinflammatory, Antinociceptive, Antioxidant.

Analgesic

1. Pharmacognosy research

Antiinflammatory

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Antinociceptive

1. Pharmacognosy research

Antioxidant

1. Life sciences

Conditions

Pluchea sagittalis has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include inflammation.

Inflammation

1. Life sciences

Preparations

Pluchea sagittalis has 6 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aqueous extract, crude methanol extract, dichloromethane extract, dichloromethane extracts, ethanolic extract.

Aqueous extract

1. Life sciences
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Crude methanol extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Dichloromethane extract

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Dichloromethane extracts

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Ethanolic extract

1. Immunopharmacology and immunotoxicology

Organic (oe) and aqueous extracts (ae)

1. Virology journal