Sphaeranthus senegalensis

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Sphaeranthus polycephalus
• Sphaeranthus alatus
• Sphaeranthus lecomteanus
• Sphaeranthus mossambiquensis

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Asterales and is a member of the family Asteraceae. Specifically, it is identified by the genus Sphaeranthus and the species name S. senegalensis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Sphaeranthus senegalensis, is primarily distributed across the West Tropical Africa region. Specifically, its presence has been documented within the borders of Benin. It can also be found growing in the territories of Burkina Faso and Guinea-Bissau. Furthermore, the species is known to inhabit parts of Guinea. Finally, its geographical range extends into the country of Mali.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Sphaeranthus senegalensis is characterized by its specific altitudinal distribution within its natural habitat. This species thrives within a distinct elevational range, spanning from a minimum altitude of 580 m AMSL to a maximum elevation of 1300 m AMSL. Throughout its preferred environmental niche, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 940 m AMSL, indicating a preference for mid-altitude terrains that likely offer specific moisture and temperature regimes essential for its growth and medicinal potency.

Elevational range max:

1300 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

940 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

580 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Sphaeranthus senegalensis is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire developmental process from germination to seed production within a single growing season. In terms of its structural growth habit, it is classified as a therophyte, a life form that survives unfavorable seasons as ephemeral seeds rather than maintaining persistent above-ground or below-ground vegetative structures. This therophytic nature ensures that the species can rapidly colonize available habitats during favorable environmental conditions before returning to a dormant seed state.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Sphaeranthus senegalensis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, existing as both a forb and a graminoid in its structural habit. As a self-supporting plant, it does not function as a climber and maintains an independent lifestyle, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte, as it is strictly terrestrial in its ecological placement. The species exhibits a versatile habitat range, occurring in aquatic, semiaquatic, and terrestrial environments. In terms of stature, the plant typically reaches a height ranging from a minimum of approximately 0.30 m to a maximum of approximately 0.91 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.914411119 m

Plant height min:

0.304803706 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Sphaeranthus senegalensis is primarily driven by the production of seeds contained within its characteristic inflorescences. The reproductive cycle culminates in the development of highly uniform seeds, which exhibit a precise and consistent mass profile. Specifically, the seed mass is characterized by a mean value of 3e-05 g, a maximum value of 3e-05 g, and a minimum value of 3e-05 g. This lack of variance in seed mass indicates a highly standardized reproductive output, where each individual seed weighs exactly 3e-05 g, ensuring a consistent dispersal strategy for the species.

Seed mass mean:

3e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Sphaeranthus senegalensis has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Glycosides, Saponins, Tannins.

Glycosides

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Saponins

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Tannins

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Sphaeranthus senegalensis has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Sedative.

Sedative

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Sphaeranthus senegalensis has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aqueous extract.

Aqueous extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology