Sphallerocarpus gracilis

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Chaerophyllum gracile
• Sphallerocarpus cyminum
• Chaerophyllum cyminum
• Conopodium cyminum
• Myrrhis gracilis

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Sphallerocarpus gracilis, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Apiales and the family Apiaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic position is defined by its membership in the genus Sphallerocarpus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution spanning across several distinct regions of the continent. In Middle Europe, its presence can be documented within the borders of Germany. Moving toward Eastern Europe, the species is found throughout Central European Russia. The distribution extends significantly into Siberia, where it inhabits the regions of Altay and Buryatiya. Finally, the plant's range reaches further into the Siberian landscape within the area of Chita.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Sphallerocarpus gracilis is characterized by its preference for open, managed roadsides, where it thrives in disturbed environments. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, spanning a significant vertical gradient within its ecosystem. It is typically found at a mean elevation of 1,690 m AMSL, though its range extends from a minimum of 580 m AMSL to a maximum altitude of 2,800 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2800 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1690 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

580 m AMSL

Habitat :

open roadsides managed

Life history

The life history of Sphallerocarpus gracilis is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist in its environment across multiple growing seasons. As a perennial species, it does not complete its life cycle within a single year like annuals or two years like biennials; instead, it maintains established root systems and vegetative structures that facilitate repeated seasonal growth cycles. This long-term survival strategy enables the plant to invest resources into robust perennial development, ensuring its ability to withstand environmental fluctuations and reproduce over an extended period within its natural habitat.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Sphallerocarpus gracilis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, functioning as a self-supporting plant rather than a climber or liana. This independent, non-parasitic species is terrestrial in nature and exhibits a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 1.2 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.85 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.2 m

Plant height mean:

0.85 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Sphallerocarpus gracilis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation mechanisms. Under this pathway, the plant utilizes the enzyme Rubisco to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide directly into a three-carbon molecule during the Calvin cycle. This reliance on C3 metabolism implies that the plant's gas exchange and energy production are highly sensitive to environmental variables such as light intensity, temperature, and water availability, as the process is susceptible to photorespiration when stomatal conductance is limited. Consequently, its physiological efficiency and growth rates are closely tied to its ability to maintain optimal hydration and temperature to balance carbon uptake with transpiration.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Sphallerocarpus gracilis is characterized by a specific flowering period and the production of small, distinct fruits. The flowering season is concentrated in the month of July, marking both the start and the end of its blooming cycle. Following pollination, the plant produces fruits with notable morphological variations. These fruits typically reach a mean length of 0.55 cm and a mean width of 0.175 cm. In terms of size range, the fruit length varies from a minimum of 0.4 cm to a maximum of 0.7 cm, while the width ranges from a minimum of 0.15 cm to a maximum of 0.2 cm.

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit length max:

0.7 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.55 cm

Fruit length min:

0.4 cm

Fruit width max:

0.2 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.175 cm

Fruit width min:

0.15 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Sphallerocarpus gracilis has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed.

Seed

1. International immunopharmacology

Chemicals

Sphallerocarpus gracilis has 9 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, CHLOROGENIC ACID, Hydroxyl radicals, Luteolin 7-O-glucoside, Polysaccharide.

1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. International immunopharmacology

Hydroxyl radicals

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Luteolin 7-O-glucoside

1. International immunopharmacology

Polysaccharide

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Superoxide

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

arabinose

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

glucose

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

mannose

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Conditions

Sphallerocarpus gracilis has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include DNA damage, apoptosis, oxidative injury.

Dna damage

1. International immunopharmacology

Apoptosis

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Oxidative injury

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Preparations

Sphallerocarpus gracilis has 2 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include SGP-1, crude Sphallerocarpus gracilis polysaccharides.

Sgp-1

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Crude sphallerocarpus gracilis polysaccharides

1. Journal of the science of food and agriculture