Serratula coronata

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Carduus coronata

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 name Serratulula.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several distinct regions of the European continent. In Middle Europe, it can be found growing within the borders of Germany and Switzerland. Its range extends into Southeastern Europe, where it is documented in Romania. Moving toward Eastern Europe, the species is also present in Belarus. Finally, its geographical presence reaches into Central European Russia to complete its distribution.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Serrafula coronaata is characterized by its ability to thrive across a diverse array of environments, ranging from dense forests and forest edges to open meadows, including specifically wet meadow ecosystems. It is also frequently found in mountainous terrains, shrubberies, and steppe landscapes. This adaptability is reflected in its broad altitudinal distribution, which spans from a minimum elevation of 130 m AMSL to a maximum of 1600 m AMSL, maintaining a mean elevational range of approximately 865 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1600 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

865 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

130 m AMSL

Habitat :

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

Life history

The life history of Serrafula coronata is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth habit and survival strategy, the species functions as a hemicryptophyte, meaning its perennial buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or other organic debris during unfavorable conditions. This hemicryptophytic life form defines its ability to regenerate seasonally from these protected axillary buds, ensuring its continued presence in its ecological niche over time.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Serrafula coronata is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, manifesting as both a herb and a forb. The plant exhibits a versatile habitat range, functioning as an aquatic, semiaquatic, or terrestrial species, and is classified as a terrestrial epiphyte rather than an obligatory or facultative one. As an independent organism, it does not function as a parasite. In terms of stature, it is a self-supporting plant that does not require climbing structures, with a plant height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.35 m to a maximum of 1.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height min:

0.35 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Serrafula coronata is characterized by its specific metabolic adaptations to its environment, most notably through its photosynthetic pathway. This plant utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a process in which the first stable compound formed during carbon fixation is a three-carbon molecule, typically occurring within the mesophyll cells. This metabolic route involves the enzyme Rubisco facilitating the carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) using atmospheric carbon dioxide. Because it operates via the C3 pathway rather than C4 or CAM mechanisms, the plant's gas exchange and water-use efficiency are intrinsically linked to its stomatal conductance and ambient temperature, influencing its overall energy production and biomass accumulation.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproductive cycle of Serrafula coronata is characterized by a specific flowering period that begins in June and extends through September. During this window, the plant produces its reproductive structures, which eventually develop into fruits with a highly consistent morphology; the fruits maintain a uniform width of approximately 0.2 cm, with no variance recorded between the minimum, mean, and maximum measurements. Following maturation, the plant utilizes an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on wind currents to transport its seeds away from the parent plant to facilitate colonization of new areas.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit width max:

0.2 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Serratula coronata has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 20-HYDROXYECDYSONE, Ajugasterone C, Polypodine b.

20-HYDROXYECDYSONE

1. International journal of environmental research and public health

Ajugasterone C

1. International journal of environmental research and public health

Polypodine b

1. International journal of environmental research and public health

Conditions

Serratula coronata has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include erythema, itching, pain, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis.

Erythema

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Itching

1. International journal of environmental research and public health

Pain

1. International journal of environmental research and public health

Psoriasis

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Seborrheic dermatitis

1. International journal of environmental research and public health

Preparations

Serratula coronata has 5 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Antisstress I, Antisstress II, creams containing the extract of S. coronata, extract, extracts.

Antisstress i

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antisstress ii

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Creams containing the extract of s. coronata

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Extract

1. International journal of environmental research and public health

Extracts

1. Journal of applied microbiology