maiden saussurea

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Saussurea japonica var. alata
• Saussurea japonica f. leucocephala
• Saussurea pulchella var. pinnatifida
• Saussurea pulchella var. subintegra
• Heterotrichum pulchellum
• Saussurea pulchella var. koraiensis
• Saussurea dissecta
• Saussurea pulchella var. lineariloba
• Saussurea koraiensis
• Saussurea pulchella f. subintegra
• Saussurea pulchella f. subtomentosa
• Saussurea pulchella var. dentata
• Saussurea pulchella var. ovata
• Saussurea japonica var. pinnatifida
• Theodorea koraiensis
• Saussurea japonica var. subtomentosa
• Theodorea pulchella
• Saussurea pulchella var. alata
• Saussurea japonica var. lineariloba
• Saussurea japonica var. dentata

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asterales. Finally, it is a member of the family Asteraceae and is specifically identified by the genus Saussurea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several distinct regions in Northern Asia. In Siberia, its presence is documented in the Chitá area. The species can also be found throughout the Russian Far East, specifically within the Amur, Khabarovsk, and Primorye regions. Moving into China, it inhabits the territory of Inner Mongolia. Consequently, the range of Saussurea pulchella spans a significant stretch of the Eurasian continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Saussurea pulchella is characterized by its adaptability to diverse landscape types and a specific vertical distribution within its environment. This species thrives in various habitats, including dumps, forest edges, wet meadows, shrubberies, and steppe ecosystems. In terms of altitudinal distribution, the plant occupies a broad elevational range, starting from as low as 300 m AMSL and extending up to a maximum of 2200 m AMSL, with a mean elevation of approximately 1250 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2200 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1250 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

300 m AMSL

Habitat :

dump, forest edges, meadows: wet, shrubberies, steppe

Life history

The life history of Saussurea pulchella is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years and undergoes multiple growing seasons to complete its reproductive cycle. As a perennial species adapted to high-altitude environments, it typically spends its initial years establishing a robust root system and accumulating enough energy reserves to support flowering. Once mature, the plant follows a seasonal rhythm, emerging during the favorable growing periods of the alpine summer and entering a period of dormancy during the harsh, freezing winter months. This long-term survival strategy allows the plant to withstand the extreme fluctuations of its habitat, ensuring that it can produce seeds and contribute to the population across several consecutive years rather than following a single-season life cycle.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

Morphologically, Saussurea pulchella is characterized as a non-woody herb that exhibits a self-supporting growth form. As an independent organism, it does not function as a parasite and thrives in terrestrial habitats, rather than aquatic or semiaquatic environments. The plant maintains a relatively compact stature, with a height ranging from a minimum of 0.25 meters to a maximum of 1 meter.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height min:

0.25 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Saussurea pulchella is characterized by a sexual process involving bisexual flowers, ensuring that each individual possesses both male and female reproductive organs. The flowering period for this species is relatively concentrated during the summer months, typically beginning in July and reaching its conclusion in August. Following the successful pollination and development of seeds, the plant utilizes an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on wind currents to transport its seeds to new locations.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Saussurea pulchella has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include pulchellamines D.

pulchellamines D

1. Journal of natural products

Conditions

Saussurea pulchella has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include ulcerative colitis.

Ulcerative colitis

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Saussurea pulchella has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include SP 75% ethanol extract, methanol extract.

Sp 75% ethanol extract

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Methanol extract

1. Journal of natural products