Bolivian coriander

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Yerba Porosa
• Bolivian coriander
• Quillquiña
• summer cilantro

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Porophyllum ellipticum var. ruderale
• Cacalia ruderalis
• Kleinia ruderalis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Porophyllum rudeale, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Asterales and the family Asteraceae. It is further identified by its genus, Porophyllum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread geographical distribution across several distinct tropical and subtropical regions. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is specifically noted within the Ivory Coast. Its range extends to the Western Indian Ocean, where it can be found on the island of Réunion. Within the Malesia region, the species inhabits Jawa as well as the Lesser Sunda Islands. Finally, its distribution reaches East Asia, specifically documented in Southeast China.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Porophyllum rudeale is characterized by its ability to thrive in anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópicamente), where it often colonizes disturbed environments shaped by human activity. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, spanning from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 2600 m AMSL. Despite this wide vertical range, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 550 m AMSL, suggesting that it most frequently occupies lower to mid-elevation landscapes within its ecological niche.

Elevational range max:

2600 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

550 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Porophyllum rudeale is characterized by its classification as an annual plant, meaning it completes its entire developmental cycle—from germination to seed production—within a single growing season. As a therophyte, its biological strategy focuses on surviving unfavorable conditions through the production of seeds rather than maintaining vegetative structures. This life form dictates that the plant remains in a dormant seed state during periods of environmental stress, rapidly emerging to grow, flower, and reproduce when conditions become favorable, ultimately leaving behind a seed bank to ensure the continuity of the next generation.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Porophyllum rudeale is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb, typically reaching a mean plant height of approximately 0.5 m. This species is a self-supporting plant, lacking any climbing or vine-like tendencies, and it functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite. It is a strictly terrestrial species, neither aquatic nor exhibiting any epiphytic behavior such as being a holoepiphyte or hemiepiphyte.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Porophyllum rudeale is characterized by its specialized metabolic adaptations to nutrient-poor environments, though it lacks the specific symbiotic mechanisms required to function as a nitrogen fixer. Unlike legumes that harbor rhizobia, this species does not possess the physiological capacity for atmospheric nitrogen fixation (trait_1: no; trait_2: no), meaning it relies entirely on the uptake of inorganic nitrogen, such as nitrates and ammonium, from the soil through its root system. Its metabolic processes are driven by efficient photosynthetic pathways that support rapid growth in disturbed or open habitats. The plant exhibits robust secondary metabolism, producing various volatile organic compounds and essential oils that serve physiological functions in defense against herbivory and environmental stressors. Furthermore, its physiological resilience is marked by a high tolerance for varying soil moisture levels, allowing it to maintain cellular homeostasis and transpiration rates even in suboptimal climatic conditions.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Porophyllum rudeale is characterized by the production of dry fruits that contain seeds with highly consistent volumetric properties. The seeds produced by this species exhibit a uniform seed volume, maintaining both a minimum and maximum value of 1 mm³, resulting in a mean seed volume of 1 mm³. In terms of mass, the seeds show a degree of variability, with a minimum mass of 0.00043 g and a maximum mass of 0.00184 g, yielding an average seed mass of approximately 0.0014833335 g. These reproductive traits, combined with the dry nature of the fruit, facilitate the dispersal and establishment of the species within its habitat.

Fruit dryness :

dry

Seed mass max:

0.00184 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0014833335 g

Seed mass min:

0.00043 g

Seed volume max:

1 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Porophyllum ruderale has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Porophyllum ruderale has 28 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (E)-Anethole, (E)-Caryophyllene, (E)-beta-ocimene, (Z)-BETA-OCIMENE, 4-Terpineol.

(E)-Anethole

1. Dr. Duke

(E)-Caryophyllene

1. Dr. Duke

(E)-beta-ocimene

1. Dr. Duke

(Z)-BETA-OCIMENE

1. Dr. Duke

4-Terpineol

1. Dr. Duke

ALPHA-PHELLANDRENE

1. Dr. Duke

ALPHA-PINENE

1. Dr. Duke

ALPHA-THUJENE

1. Dr. Duke

Alpha terpinene

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-PINENE

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Porophyllum ruderale has 90 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include ACE-Inhibitor, AChE-Inhibitor, Acaricide, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor, Allelochemic.

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AChE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiacetylcholinesterase

1. Dr. Duke

Antiacne

1. Dr. Duke

Antiadenomic

1. Dr. Duke