forest burr

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• forest burr
• sweethearts

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cadelari lappacea
• Celosia lappacea
• Desmochaeta lappacea
• Codivalia lappacea
• Achyranthes lappacea

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 within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Caryophyllales, it is positioned in the family Amaranthaceae. Specifically, it is identified by the genus Pupalia, which includes the species Pupalia lappacea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Pupalia lappacea, exhibits a specific geographical distribution across the West Tropical Africa region. It can be found growing within the borders of Benin, where it integrates into the local ecosystem. The species also extends its range into Burkina, contributing to the area's medicinal flora. Furthermore, its presence is documented in the countries of Gambia and Ghana. Finally, the distribution includes Guinea-Bissau, completing its footprint across these West African nations.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pupalia lappacea is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution that allows it to inhabit diverse topographical landscapes. It thrives across a wide elevational range, beginning at sea level with a minimum altitude of 2 m AMSL and extending to significant heights reaching a maximum of 1705 m AMSL. On average, the species is most commonly found at a mean elevation of 600 m AMSL, suggesting a preference for lowland to mid-elevation habitats. This wide vertical gradient indicates an adaptability to varying climatic conditions and environmental pressures found across different montane and coastal zones.

Elevational range max:

1705 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

2 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Pupalia lappacea is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning it completes its entire biological progression from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, the plant follows a specialized life strategy where the majority of its life is spent in a dormant seed stage, with the vegetative structures appearing only during favorable environmental conditions. This life form allows the species to efficiently exploit seasonal resources before returning to a state of dormancy, ensuring survival through periods of unfavorable climate.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Pupalia lappacea is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb that is entirely terrestrial in its habitat. As a self-supporting plant, it does not function as a climber or an epiphyte, nor does it act as a parasite, maintaining an independent biological existence. The plant exhibits a relatively modest stature, with a height ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of approximately 1.22 m, maintaining an average height of about 0.775 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.219214826 m

Plant height mean:

0.775 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pupalia lappacea is characterized by its specific metabolic and biochemical processes, most notably its carbon assimilation strategy which utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway. This indicates that the plant fixes atmospheric carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle using the enzyme Rubisco, without the specialized carbon-concentrating mechanisms found in C4 or CAM species. Furthermore, regarding its nutrient acquisition and symbiotic relationships, the species is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized root nodules or symbiotic associations with diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a bioavailable form.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

Reproduction in Pupalia lappacea is characterized by the production of seeds that exhibit significant variability in physical dimensions. The seed mass within a population fluctuates considerably, ranging from a minimum of 0.00027 g to a maximum of 0.04367 g. When observing the collective data for these seeds, the mean seed mass is calculated to be 0.01055 g, reflecting a wide distribution in the reproductive output of the species.

Seed mass max:

0.04367 g

Seed mass mean:

0.01055 g

Seed mass min:

0.00027 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Pupalia lappacea 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 flower.

Flower

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Chemicals

Pupalia lappacea has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Saponins, polyphenols.

Saponins

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

polyphenols

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Pupalia lappacea has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial.

Antibacterial

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Medicinal Uses

Pupalia lappacea has 5 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, cancer, wounds.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations