navelwort

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Navelwort
• Wall Pennywort
• pennywort
• pennypies

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Umbilicus neglectus
• Umbilicus deflexus
• Umbilicus umbilicatus
• Umbilicus simplex
• Cotyledon umbilicus-veneris subsp. pendulina
• Umbilicus rupestris var. truncatus
• Cotyledon neglecta
• Cotyledon umbilicus-veneris var. patula
• Umbilicus rupestris var. velenovskyi
• Umbilicus aetneus
• Cotyledon rupestris
• Cotyledon umbilicus-veneris var. deflexa
• Umbilicus pendulinus var. punctatus
• Umbilicus patulus
• Cotyliphyllum erectum
• Cotyliphyllum umbilicus
• Umbilicus pendulinus
• Cotyledon tuberosa
• Cotyledon umbilicata
• Cotyledon umbilicifolia
• Cotyledon umbilicus-veneris var. tuberosa
• Umbilicus vulgaris subsp. pendulinus
• Umbilicus pendulinus var. truncatus
• Cotyledon umbilicus-veneris var. gredense
• Cotyledon umbilicus-veneris var. marianica
• Cotyledon umbilicus-veneris var. pendulina
• Cotyledon umbilicus-veneris subsp. pendulina
• Cotyledon gredense
• Umbilicus pendulinus var. velenovskyi

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Umbilicus rupestris, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Saxifrages and the family Crassulaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by its specific genus, Umbilicus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several different regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, it can be found growing within the territories of Great Britain and Ireland. Its presence extends into Middle Europe, specifically documented in Germany. Moving toward the Mediterranean, the species is also located in Southwestern Europe. Within this southern region, it inhabits the Baleares and Corse.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Umbilicus rupestris is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth habit and survival strategy, the species functions as a hemicryptophyte, maintaining its perenn Perennial buds at or just below the soil surface to endure environmental fluctuations. Additionally, it exhibits the characteristics of a geophyte, utilizing underground storage organs to sustain its life cycle and facilitate regrowth.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Umbilicus rupestris is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, nor does it exhibit parasitic or epiphytic behavior, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. In terms of stature, the plant reaches a mean height of approximately 0.175 m, with a maximum potential height of up to 0.5 m. As an independent organism, it lacks woodiness, reinforcing its classification as a herbaceous species.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.175 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Umbilicus rupestris is characterized by a specialized photosynthetic pathway utilizing CAM (Crassulacean Acid Metabolism), allowing the plant to optimize water-use efficiency by fixing carbon dioxide at night. This metabolic adaptation is supported by its morphological leaf traits, with a mean leaf size of 17.44 cm². Furthermore, the plant exhibits a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 327.67 cm²/g, reflecting a structural balance between leaf thickness and surface area that facilitates its physiological functions within its natural habitat.

Leaf size mean:

17.44 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

CAM

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

327.67 cm²/g

Reproduction

Reproduction in Umbilicus rupestris is characterized by a sexual process involving bisexual flowers, ensuring that both male and female reproductive organs are present within the same plant. The pollination mechanism is primarily biotic, specifically relying on an insect pollination syndrome to facilitate the transfer of pollen. To maintain genetic diversity, self-fertilization is absent in this species. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces a high volume of progeny, with each fruit containing more than 1,000 seeds. These seeds are notably minute, with a minimum mass of 1e-05 g, a mean mass of 1.01e-05 g, and a maximum mass of 2e-05 g. Once mature, the seeds utilize an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning they are dispersed by the wind to colonize new habitats.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

2e-05 g

Seed mass mean:

1.01e-05 g

Seed mass min:

1e-05 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Umbilicus rupestris 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. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Chemicals

Umbilicus rupestris has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Isoquercitrin.

Isoquercitrin

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Preparations

Umbilicus rupestris has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include hydroethanolic extracts.

Hydroethanolic extracts

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)