youth-and-age

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Young's helleborine
• Youth-and-age
• common zinnia
• elegant zinnia
• garden zinnia
• youth-and-old-age

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Crassina elegans
• Crassina linearis
• Zinnia australis
• Zinnia linearis var. latifolia
• Zinnia linearis
• Zinnia violacea var. coccinea
• Zinnia violacea
• Zinnia elegans var. violacea
• Zinnia elegans var. coccinea
• Zinnia elegans var. alba
• Zinnia elegans var. purpurascens

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, placing it within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is classified under the order Asterales and the family Asteraceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Zinnia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several nations in Middle Europe. Within this region, it can be found growing in the country of Austria. Its presence extends into the territories of Czechia and Slovakia as well. Furthermore, the species is documented throughout Germany and Hungary. Finally, the distribution of this medicinal plant reaches into Poland.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Zinnia elegans is characterized by its adaptability to diverse environments, ranging from disturbed human-altered landscapes to specific natural biomes. It is commonly found in anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), as well as within the Caatinga (strictu sensu) and Cerrado (lato sensu) ecosystems. This species demonstrates a broad altitudinal distribution, thriving at elevations starting from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum height of 1000 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Cerrado (lato sensu)

Life history

The life history of Zinnia elegans is characterized by its classification as an annual plant, meaning it completes its entire developmental cycle—from germination to seed production and death—within a single growing season. Functioning as a therophyte, the plant survives the unfavorable seasons in the form of seeds, which remain dormant until environmental conditions become suitable for the next generation. This lifecycle ensures rapid colonization and reproduction, as the plant focuses its energy on quick growth, prolific flowering, and efficient seed dispersal to secure its presence in subsequent years.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Zinnia elegans is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb, typically manifesting as a self-supporting, independent organism that does not function as a climber, liana, or vine. As a terrestrial species, it is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte, growing directly in soil. The plant exhibits an erect shoot orientation, maintaining an upright structure throughout its development. In terms of stature, it is a relatively low-growing species, with a plant height ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 1 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Zinnia elegans is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which involves the direct fixation of carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle using the enzyme RuBisCO. As a non-succulent species, it lacks specialized water-storage tissues, meaning its physiological processes are highly dependent on consistent soil moisture and regular transpiration cycles to maintain turgor pressure and nutrient transport. Because it does not employ CAM or C4 mechanisms, its metabolic efficiency is most optimal in environments where light intensity and temperature are moderate, allowing for efficient gas exchange through its stomata without the extreme water-conserving adaptations found in succulent or C4 plants.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Zinnia elegans is characterized by a seasonal flowering cycle and specific seed production metrics. The plant typically enters its flowering phase starting in June, maintaining blooms through until October, though the timing can remain variable depending on environmental conditions. Its reproductive output is manifested through seeds that exhibit a notable range in weight; the seed mass varies from a minimum of 0.0025 g to a maximum of 0.01133 g, with an overall mean seed mass calculated at 0.0058325 g. Furthermore, the dispersal of these seeds is facilitated by an anemochorous syndrome, meaning they are primarily dispersed by the wind.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Oct

Seed mass max:

0.01133 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0058325 g

Seed mass min:

0.0025 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Zinnia elegans has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Abscisic acid (ABA), H2O2, Malondialdehyde, Potassium (K+), proline.

Abscisic acid (ABA)

1. BMC plant biology

H2O2

1. BMC plant biology

Malondialdehyde

1. BMC plant biology

Potassium (K+)

1. BMC plant biology

proline

1. BMC plant biology

putrescine

1. BMC plant biology

Conditions

Zinnia elegans has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include salinity stress, salt stress.

Salinity stress

1. BMC plant biology

Salt stress

1. BMC plant biology