Russian spiraea

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Russian Spiraea

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Spiraea chamaedryfolia var. media

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Spiraea media, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Rosales and the family Rosaceae. Finally, it is situated within the genus Spiraea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several regions of Europe. In Northern Europe, its presence can be found within Great Britain. The species is also widely distributed across Middle Europe, appearing in Germany and Austria. Additionally, it inhabits the territories of Czechia-Slovakia. Finally, its range extends further into Middle Europe to include Hungary.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Spiraea media is characterized by its preference for diverse landscapes, where it typically thrives in forest environments, along forest edges, within shrubberies, and across stony places. This plant occupies a specific altitudinal niche, maintaining an elevational range that begins at 750 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 1600 m AMSL. Throughout its distribution, it maintains a mean elevation of approximately 1175 m AMSL, reflecting its adaptation to the specific climatic and soil conditions found within these mid-to-high altitude montane habitats.

Elevational range max:

1600 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1175 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

750 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, forest edges, shrubberies, stony places

Life history

The life history of Spiraea media is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its stem structure above the ground, though it can also be categorized under the nanophanerophyte life form depending on specific environmental conditions and growth habits. The plant follows a deciduous growth pattern, shedding its foliage annually as part of its seasonal cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Spiraea media is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub. It functions as a self-supporting plant, possessing no climbing or vining tendencies, and operates as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte, maintaining a primarily terrestrial existence. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variation in height, ranging from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 2 m, with an average plant height of approximately 1.5875 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

1.5875 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Spiraea media is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation efficiency. The vegetative structure is defined by its leaf morphology, featuring elliptic-shaped leaves that lack any defensive leaf thorns or spines. These leaves exhibit a toothed margin and vary in size, with a minimum length of 1 cm and a mean length of 2 cm, reaching a maximum of 3 cm. In terms of breadth, the leaf width ranges from a minimum of 0.5 cm to a maximum of 1.5 cm.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

3 cm

Leaf length mean:

2 cm

Leaf length min:

1 cm

Leaf margin :

toothed

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

1.5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Spiraea media is characterized by its bisexual nature, meaning each flower contains both male and female reproductive organs. The flowering period typically commences in May and extends through July, though the specific timing can be variable depending on environmental conditions. During this reproductive phase, the plant produces flowers that are relatively small in scale, with individual flower lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.1 cm to a maximum of 1 cm.

Flower length max:

1 cm

Flower length min:

0.1 cm

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jul

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Spiraea media 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 leaf.

Leaf

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Spiraea media has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Astragalin, Avicularin, CINNAMIC ACID, Hyperoside, flavonols.

Astragalin

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Avicularin

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

CINNAMIC ACID

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Hyperoside

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

flavonols

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Spiraea media has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include leaf extracts.

Leaf extracts

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)