Austrian peaweed

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Austrian peaweed
• Swainson pea
• alkali Swainson pea
• globe-pea
• red bladder-vetch
• Bladder-vetch
• salt globe-pea
• swainson-pea

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Swainsona salsula
• Astragalus iochrous
• Colutea salsula
• Colutea davurica
• Sphaerophysa caspica
• Phaca salsula
• Colutea caspica

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is situated in the order Fabales and is a member of the Fabaceae family. Its specific scientific classification is completed by its designation within the genus Sphaerophysa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several significant regions of Eurasia. In Eastern Europe, its presence is documented throughout both Central European Russia and South European Russia. Moving into the Siberian region, it can be found in the mountainous area of Altay. The species also extends its range to the eastern territories of Chita. Furthermore, its habitat includes the remote southern region of Tuva.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Sphaerophysa salsula is characterized by its ability to colonize a variety of open, disturbed, and sun-exposed environments. This species is commonly found inhabiting cropfields, meadows, oldfields, and parks, where it can establish itself in relatively modified or transient landscapes. In terms of altitudinal distribution, the species maintains a mean elevation of approximately 900 m AMSL, indicating its presence within specific montane or mid-elevation ecological zones.

Elevational range mean:

900 m AMSL

Habitat :

cropfields,meadows,oldfields,parks

Life history

The life history of Sphaerophysa salsula is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a perennial, it does not complete its life cycle in a single year like annuals, nor does it follow the strict two-year cycle of biennials; instead, it maintains a long-term presence in its habitat, often developing robust structures to survive seasonal changes. This enduring lifecycle enables the plant to establish itself within its ecological niche, contributing to its stability and ability to reproduce over an extended period.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Sphaerophysa salsula is characterized by a growth form categorized as both a herb and a subshrub, exhibiting a woody texture in its structure. This species is non-parasitic, functioning as an independent organism, and is primarily terrestrial in its ecological positioning rather than acting as an epiphyte. While it can inhabit environments ranging from aquatic to semiaquatic to terrestrial, its structural habit is that of a self-supporting plant, lacking the climbing mechanisms of a liana or vine. In terms of stature, the plant maintains a relatively low profile, with a height ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 0.7 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

subshrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.7 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Sphaerophysa salsula is primarily defined by its metabolic efficiency and carbon fixation mechanisms, specifically utilizing the C3 photosynthetic pathway. Under this C3 pathway, the plant performs initial carbon fixation through the enzyme Rubisco, which reacts atmospheric carbon dioxide with ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate to form 3-phosphoglycerate. This metabolic process dictates the plant's gas exchange patterns and water-use efficiency, as it relies on the opening of stomata during daylight hours to facilitate CO2 uptake, a characteristic common to plants operating within the C3 framework rather than the more specialized C4 or CAM pathways. The physiological regulation of these processes is closely tied to the plant's ability to manage transpiration and maintain photosynthetic rates in response to its environmental conditions.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Sphaerophysa salsula is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering window and highly uniform seed production. The flowering period typically commences in April and continues through August, though the timing can be variable depending on environmental conditions. During the reproductive phase, the plant produces seeds with remarkable consistency in size and weight; the seed mass is recorded at a uniform value of 0.00343 g, with the mean, maximum, and minimum measurements all aligning at this exact weight.

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Aug

Seed mass mean:

0.00343 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Sphaerophysa salsula has 3 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, seed, stem.

Root

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Seed

1. Journal of Asian natural products research

Stem

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Chemicals

Sphaerophysa salsula has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include D-mannitol, Erythrol, n-butyl-O-beta-D-fructopyranoside, nicotinic acid, quercitrin.

D-mannitol

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Erythrol

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

n-butyl-O-beta-D-fructopyranoside

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

nicotinic acid

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

quercitrin

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

succinic acid

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

uridine

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Preparations

Sphaerophysa salsula has 2 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanol extract, whole herb.

Ethanol extract

1. Journal of Asian natural products research

Whole herb

1. Natural product research