Saussurea stella

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Theodorea stella

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

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

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across high-altitude regions in Asia. In China, its presence is documented throughout the South-Central and North-Central territories. It is also found within the specific provinces of Qinghai and Tibet. Additionally, the species extends into the Indian Subcontinent, specifically within the East Himalaya region. Together, these locations highlight its preference for mountainous environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Saussurea stella is defined by its specialized adaptation to high-altitude alpine environments, where it inhabits a broad vertical distribution across montane ecosystems. This species thrives within a significant elevational range, typically found at altitudes starting from a minimum of 2000 m AMSL. As the terrain ascends, the plant occupies diverse ecological niches, reaching a mean elevation of approximately 3700 m AMSL. The upper limits of its habitat are even more extreme, as it is capable of persisting in harsh, high-alpine zones up to a maximum elevation of 5400 m AMSL, where it must withstand intense solar radiation, low atmospheric pressure, and fluctuating thermal conditions.

Elevational range max:

5400 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

3700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

2000 m AMSL

Morphology

The morphology of Saussurea stella is characterized by its classification as a herb, exhibiting a growth form consistent with a herbaceous plant. It is a non-woody species, lacking any woody structural components in its development. In terms of its growth habit, the plant is self-supporting and does not function as a climber, maintaining its own structure without the need for external support. Furthermore, it is a terrestrial plant, growing directly in the soil rather than occupying an epiphytic niche.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Saussurea stella is characterized by distinct morphological variations in its foliar structures, which play a critical role in its metabolic and photosynthetic efficiency. The leaves exhibit a significant range in dimension, with lengths typically averaging 11 cm, though they can be as short as 3 cm or extend to a maximum of 19 cm. Correspondingly, the width of the leaves shows notable plasticity, maintaining a mean width of 0.65 cm, with minimum measurements reaching as low as 0.3 cm and a maximum width of 1 cm. These specific leaf dimensions suggest a specialized adaptation to its environmental niche, where the elongated and narrow leaf profiles likely optimize gas exchange and light interception while managing transpiration rates within its specific habitat.

Leaf length max:

19 cm

Leaf length mean:

11 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf width max:

1 cm

Leaf width mean:

0.65 cm

Leaf width min:

0.3 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Saussurea stella is characterized by the development of specific fruit structures that follow a highly uniform morphological pattern. The fruiting bodies produced by this species exhibit a consistent size, with the fruit length measuring exactly 0.5 cm across all observed specimens. This precise measurement is reflected in its statistical distribution, as both the minimum, mean, and maximum fruit lengths are recorded at a constant 0.5 cm. This lack of variance in fruit dimensions indicates a highly stable reproductive trait within the species' development cycle.

Fruit length max:

0.5 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Saussurea stella has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 3-O-beta-D-Fucopyranosylstrophanthidin, 3-O-beta-D-quinovopyranosylperiplogenin, Cardenolides.

3-O-beta-D-Fucopyranosylstrophanthidin

1. Journal of natural products

3-O-beta-D-quinovopyranosylperiplogenin

1. Journal of natural products

Cardenolides

1. Journal of natural products

Preparations

Saussurea stella has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanol extract of the whole dried plants.

Ethanol extract of the whole dried plants

1. Journal of natural products