Pulicaria incisa

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pulicaria desertorum
• Pulicaria incisa subsp. candolleana
• Pulicaria incisa subsp. denticulata
• Pulicaria incisa subsp. suffrutescens
• Inula incisa

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Pulicaria incisa, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Asterales. Finally, it is a member of the family Asteraceae within the genus Pulicaria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several key regions of the African continent. In Northern Africa, its presence is specifically documented within the territories of Algeria and Egypt. Moving toward the western part of the continent, it can also be found throughout West Tropical Africa. Within this tropical zone, the species inhabits the countries of Benin and Burkina Faso. Finally, its range extends further south into the nation of Ghana.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Pulicaria incisa is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist across multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth strategy, it is classified as a chamaephyte, a life form where the permanent shoots are located close to the ground level, often protected by leaf litter or soil. This botanical classification as a chamaephyte applies to both its primary life form designation and its specific ecological positioning, ensuring its survival through varying environmental conditions.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pulicaria incisa is characterized by its status as a non-woody, self-supporting plant that lacks any climbing or parasitic tendencies. Functioning as an independent organism, it exhibits a growth form described as a subshrub, though it maintains a herb-like quality due to its non-woody structure. In terms of its ecological habitat and positioning, the plant is primarily terrestrial rather than aquatic or epiphytic, growing directly in soil environments without the need for host support or submersion.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Growth form :

subshrub

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

Reproduction in Pulicaria incisa is characterized by the production of specialized seeds that facilitate its dispersal and survival within its ecological niche. The reproductive output is defined by highly consistent seed dimensions, exhibiting a uniform seed mass across recorded samples. Specifically, the seed mass maintains a mean value of 0.00011 g, a figure that is mirrored by both the maximum and minimum measured values of 0.00011 g. This lack of variance in seed mass suggests a highly stabilized reproductive strategy, ensuring that each individual seed carries a precise and predictable amount of nutrient reserves to support early germination and seedling establishment.

Seed mass mean:

0.00011 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Pulicaria incisa 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

Pulicaria incisa has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, polyphenols.

Flavonoids

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

polyphenols

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Pulicaria incisa has 2 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant.

Antibacterial

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Medicinal Uses

Pulicaria incisa has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations