Vernonanthura brasiliana

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Vernonia odoratissima
• Vernonia odoratissima var. caracasana
• Vernonia scabra
• Vernonia assans
• Baccharis brasiliana
• Vernonia scabra var. acuminata
• Cacalia brasiliana
• Vernonia odoratissima var. guianensis
• Conyza clethrifolia
• Conyza martii
• Vernonia brasiliana

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Vernonanthura brasiliana, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, falling within the order Asterales. Finally, it is a member of the family Asteraceae and the genus Vernonanthura.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide distribution across several regions in the Neotropics. In Central America, its presence is specifically noted in Nicaragua. Moving into Northern South America, the species can be found throughout French Guiana. It is also widely distributed across the Guiana Shield, including Guyana and Suriname. Finally, its range extends into the northern territories of Venezuela.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Vernonanthura brasiliana is characterized by its ability to thrive across a diverse array of Brazilian biomes, including the Caatinga (strictu sensu), Campinarana, Campo Rupestre, and Cerrado (latu sensu). This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, ranging from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1700 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range centered around 400 m AMSL. This wide environmental tolerance allows it to occupy various ecological niches, from low-lying semi-arid shrublands to higher-altitude rocky fields and savanna ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

1700 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

400 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Caatinga (stricto sensu), Campinarana, Campo Rupestre, Cerrado (lato sensu)

Life history

The life history of Vernonanthura brasiliana is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the species to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody stems, a structural trait that defines its life form in both its nanophanerophyte and phanerophyte classifications. This growth strategy enables the plant to maintain a significant vertical presence, navigating its ecological niche through sustained vegetative development and long-term survival.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Vernonanthura brasiliana is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically categorized as a shrub. It is a self-supporting plant that does not exhibit climbing habits such as being a liana or vine, nor does it function as an obligatory or facultative climber. As a terrestrial species, it lacks aquatic or semiaquatic adaptations and does not function as an epiphyte, whether as a holoepiphyte, hemiepiphyte, or any other epiphytic form. Furthermore, the plant is an independent organism, showing no parasitic tendencies, and maintains a strictly terrestrial existence rather than occupying niches as a parasite or an epiphyte.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Vernonanthura brasiliana is characterized by the production of specialized seeds that play a crucial role in its dispersal and establishment within its habitat. Based on quantitative reproductive data, the species exhibits a highly uniform seed morphology in terms of weight. The seed mass is remarkably consistent, with a mean mass of 4e-05 g. This uniformity is reflected in the extreme narrowness of its weight distribution, as both the maximum and minimum recorded seed masses are also 4e-05 g. Such minute and consistent seed mass suggests a reproductive strategy focused on the production of a high volume of lightweight seeds, which likely facilitates efficient dispersal mechanisms essential for the colonization of new environments.

Seed mass mean:

4e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Vernonanthura brasiliana 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 stem.

Stem

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Vernonanthura brasiliana has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, apigenin, luteolin.

Flavonoids

1. Metabolites

apigenin

1. Metabolites

luteolin

1. Metabolites

Conditions

Vernonanthura brasiliana has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include leishmaniasis.

Leishmaniasis

1. Metabolites

Preparations

Vernonanthura brasiliana has 3 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include crude extracts, V. brasiliana leaf extract, ethanolic extracts of stem from Mikania cordifolia and Vernonia brasiliana.

Crude extracts

1. Brazilian journal of medical and biological research = Revista brasileira de pesquisas medicas e biologicas
2. Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz

V. brasiliana leaf extract

1. Metabolites

Ethanolic extracts of stem from mikania cordifolia and vernonia brasiliana

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology