moon carrot

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• moon carrot

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Hippaton gummiferum
• Libanotis gummifera

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, situated within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is classified under the order Apiales and the family Apiaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Seseli, specifically as the species Seseli gummiferum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several distinct regions of Europe and Asia. In Middle Europe, it can be found growing within the territory of Germany. Its presence extends into Southeastern Europe, where it inhabits Greece and the island of Kriti. Furthermore, the species is located in Eastern Europe, specifically within the Krym region. Finally, its range reaches into Western Asia, particularly throughout Türkiye.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Seseli gummiferum is characterized by its specific preference for calcareous environments, where it thrives primarily in limestone-rich and stony places. These habitats provide the well-drained, mineral-heavy substrate necessary for its development, often positioning the species within rocky outcrops or scree slopes where competition from more aggressive vegetation is limited. By occupying these niche, lithic landscapes, the plant adapts to the unique microclimatic conditions found in stony terrains, such as rapid drainage and varying degrees of solar exposure common to limestone formations.

Habitat :

limestone, stony places

Life history

The life history of Seseli gummiferum is characterized by its status as a perennial species, meaning it undergoes multiple growing seasons and possesses the capacity to survive beyond a single year to complete its reproductive cycle. As a perennial herb, it typically establishes a robust root system that allows it to persist through varying seasonal conditions, often exhibiting a growth pattern that can be variable depending on the specific environmental stability and resource availability of its habitat. This lifecycle allows the plant to accumulate energy over several years, facilitating more substantial flowering and seed production phases compared to annual or biennial counterparts.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Seseli gummiferum is characterized by a non-woody growth form, functioning primarily as a herb. The plant exhibits a stature that typically ranges from a minimum height of 0.6 m to a maximum height of 1 m.

Growth form :

herb

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height min:

0.6 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Seseli gummiferum is characterized by a specific phenological window and highly uniform seed characteristics. The flowering period typically commences in July and concludes in August, marking a concentrated reproductive phase within the mid-to-late summer months. Following successful pollination, the plant produces seeds that exhibit remarkable consistency in weight; the seed mass is measured at a precise mean, minimum, and maximum of 0.00169 g, indicating a lack of variance in the mass of the individual seeds produced during this cycle.

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Seed mass mean:

0.00169 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Seseli gummiferum has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CHLOROGENIC ACID.

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Seseli gummiferum has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Staphylococcus lugdunensis, wound healing.

Staphylococcus lugdunensis

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Wound healing

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)