Saussurea involucrata

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Theodorea involucrata
• Saussurea dorogostaiskii
• Aplotaxis involucrata
• Saussurea karelinii
• Haplotaxis involucrata
• Saussurea lioui
• Saussurea involucrata var. axillicalanthina
• Saussurea ischnoides
• Saussurea polylada

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Asterales, it is classified under the family Asteraceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Saussurea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily found across the rugged high-altitude regions of northern and central Asia. In the vast expanse of Siberia, its presence is documented in the Altai and Tuva regions. Moving southward into Central Asia, the species occupies diverse mountainous landscapes. It can be specifically located within the territories of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Additionally, its distribution extends into the unique environments of Uzbekistan.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Saussurea involucrata is defined by its preference for high-altitude environments, specifically thriving within an elevational range that typically begins at 2,400 m AMSL. It is most commonly found at a mean elevation of 2,935 m AMSL, reaching its upper altitudinal limit at approximately 3,470 m AMSL. This species occupies specialized niches characterized by harsh, high-mountain conditions, specifically inhabiting gravelly and stony slopes, screes, and alpine meadows. These habitats provide the necessary drainage and mineral-rich substrate required for its survival in fragile alpine ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

3470 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2935 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

2400 m AMSL

Habitat :

Gravelly and stony slopes, screes, alpine meadows.

Life history

The life history of Saussurea involucrata is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist in its harsh, high-altitude alpine habitats over many years. As a perennial herb, it avoids the vulnerability of completing its cycle in a single season, instead developing robust structures that can withstand extreme temperature fluctuations and heavy snow cover. The plant typically spends much of its existence in a vegetative state, slowly accumulating nutrients and building a substantial root system to support its eventual reproductive efforts. When environmental conditions are favorable, it transitions into a flowering phase, producing distinctive inflorescences protected by large, petal-like involucral bracts. Following successful pollination, the plant produces seeds that contribute to the next generation, after which the individual returns to a vegetative period, continuing its long-term survival through the cyclic patterns of the mountain ecosystem.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Saussurea involucrata is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a herb and a forb. This species functions as an independent organism, meaning it is not a parasite, and maintains a self-supporting structure rather than acting as a climber. As a terrestrial plant, it grows in land-based habitats with a height that varies significantly depending on environmental conditions; individual specimens typically range from a minimum height of 0.1 m to a maximum height of 1 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.25 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.25 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiological development of the foliage in Saussurea involucrata is characterized by specific morphological dimensions that reflect its adaptation to high-altitude environments. The leaves exhibit a distinct range of sizes, with a mean leaf length of 6.25 cm, fluctuating between a minimum of 5.5 cm and a maximum of 7 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width demonstrates significant variability, maintaining a mean width of 4.5 cm, while the actual breadth of the foliage ranges from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 7 cm. These dimensional parameters suggest a structural plasticity in the leaf tissue, allowing the plant to manage its surface area in response to varying light intensities and moisture availability in its natural habitat.

Leaf length max:

7 cm

Leaf length mean:

6.25 cm

Leaf length min:

5.5 cm

Leaf width max:

7 cm

Leaf width mean:

4.5 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Saussurea involucrata is characterized by a bisexual sexual reproductive system, ensuring that individual flowers contain both male and female organs. The flowering period occurs during the summer months, typically starting in July and concluding in August. Following fertilization, the plant produces small fruits that maintain a highly consistent size, with a minimum, mean, and maximum length all measured at approximately 0.3 cm. The dispersal of these fruits follows an anemochorous syndrome, meaning they are specialized for dispersal via wind.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit length max:

0.3 cm

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Saussurea involucrata has 3 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower, leaf, root.

Flower

1. Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France)

Leaf

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Root

1. Plant cell reports

Chemicals

Saussurea involucrata has 40 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, RUTIN, Syringin, 1,5-Dicaffeoylquinic acid, CHLOROGENIC ACID.

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
3. Genes
4. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
5. Phytochemistry

RUTIN

1. Plant cell reports
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
3. Chemistry & biodiversity
4. Botanical studies
5. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Syringin

1. Plant cell reports
2. Botanical studies
3. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
4. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica
5. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

1,5-Dicaffeoylquinic acid

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. PloS one

Hispidulin

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine
2. Plant cell reports

Lignans

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Steroids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

3-Dehydrogamabufotalin

1. Phytochemistry

3-dehydroscillarenin

1. Phytochemistry

Activities

Saussurea involucrata has 6 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antioxidant, Antitumor, Apoptotic, Cytotoxic.

Analgesic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP

Antioxidant

1. Advanced healthcare materials
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antitumor

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Apoptotic

1. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP

Cytotoxic

1. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP

Neuroprotective

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Saussurea involucrata has 19 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include inflammation, altitude sickness, analgesia, anthrax, aplastic anemia.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations