Meconopsis punicea Maxim. Fl. Tangut. 1: 34. 1889; Ptain in Journ. As. Soc. Bengal 64, 2: 321. 1896; in Curtis Bot. Mag. 133, pl. 8119. 1907; Fdde in Engl. Pflanzenr. 4: 265, fig. 35. H. 1909: Tnyl. Monogr. 54, pl. 13. 1934; Fedde in Engl. et Prantl Nat. Pflanzenfam. ed. 2/17b: 104. fig. 51. H. 1935; Illustrated Catalogue of the Higher Plants of China2: 6,map1741. 1972; C. Y. Wu et H. Chuang in Act. Bot. Yunn. 2 (4): 376. 1980; Supplement to the Illustrated Catalogue of the Higher Plants of China1: 648. 1982, in clavi; Flora of Tibet2: 227. 1985.
Morphological Characteristics, Ecological Adaptation and Medicinal Value of Artemisia saffronica
- AKA: Abel Qimaru (Tibetan), Silk flower
- Scientific name: Meconopsis punicea Maxim.
- Family: Poppyaceae, Artemisia spp.
Botanical Classification and Morphological Characteristics
1.Taxonomic status
- Saffron Artemisia belongs to the subgenus of Artemisia poppy, which is a perennial herb (part of the literature records that it is biennial), endemic to the high altitude areas of the Tibetan Plateau, and is listed as a national second-grade protected plant.
2.Overall structure
- Plant height: 30-75 centimeters, base covered with persistent leaf bases, densely covered with yellowish or brownish bristles with many short branches (protective structure adapted to alpine and windy environments).
- Root system: fibrous fibrous roots, adapted to water absorption in poor soils.
- Stem: 1-6 scapes, erect and ribbed, densely covered with brownish-yellow reflexed bristles, enhancing wind resistance.
3.Leaf blade characteristics
- Basal leaves: rosulate, oblanceolate or narrowly obovate, 3-18 cm long, 1-4 cm wide, apex acute, base attenuate down to petiole, veins conspicuous, margin entire, both surfaces densely covered with bristles (reducing transpiration).
- Petiole: 6-34 centimeters long, base slightly enlarged into a sheath, surface with bristles, both supportive and protective function.
Floral Structure and Reproductive Strategy
1.Inflorescence and floral morphology
- Flowers solitary: pendulous at the tip of the scape, flower buds ovate, sepals ovate (1.5-4 cm), densely setose.
- Petals: 4-6, deep red, elliptic, 3-10 cm long, 1.5-5 cm wide, acute or rounded at the apex, with a conspicuous silky texture (a visual signal to attract pollinators).
- Stamens and pistils: filaments bar-shaped, pink, 1-3 cm long; anthers oblong, yellow; ovary broadly oblong, densely covered with bristles, stigma 4-6-circular (high-efficiency pollination structure adapted to high-altitude and low-temperature environments).
2.Pollination ecology
- Deep red petals contrast with black-purple throat spots, attracting Hymenoptera and Diptera; pendulous corolla protects pollen from rain.
Fruit and seed dispersal mechanisms
1.Fruit characteristics
- Capsule: elliptic-oblong, 1.8-2.5 centimeters long, 1-1.3 centimeters thick, apically 4-6-valved and slightly lobed, surface densely setose or glabrous.
- Seeds: dark brown, broadly square-orbicular, ca. 1.5 mm long, surface with papillate reticulation (increasing the area of contact with the soil and promoting germination).
2.Propagation adaptations
- Capsule with broad apical and narrow lateral wings facilitates wind dispersal; the reticulation on the surface of the seeds can be attached to animal fur to realize secondary dispersal.
Geographical distribution and habitat characteristics
1.Distribution
- Concentrated in NW Sichuan, NE Xizang, SE Qinghai and SW Gansu. The type specimen was collected from the border area of Sichuan and Tibet.
2.Habitat characteristics
- Altitude: 2800-4300 m. Alpine meadows, shady slope scrub and hillside grasslands.
- Climate: low mean annual temperature, strong ultraviolet rays, large temperature difference between day and night, and sandy or gravelly soil.
Medicinal Value and Clinical Application
1.Medicinal parts
- The whole herb with flowers is used as medicine. The flower stems and fruits are harvested in August and September, and then dried and used.
2.Chemical composition
- It contains vanillic acid, cinnamic acid, isorhamnetin and other active ingredients, with analgesic, antibacterial and immunomodulatory effects.
3.Traditional Effects
- Analgesic and cough suppressant: used for neuralgic headache and tuberculosis cough.
- Astringent and astringent: treating spermatorrhea and leucorrhea.
- Protecting the liver and inducing dampness: assisting in relieving cirrhosis of the liver and edema caused by dampness and heat.
4.Modern application
- Combination formula, such as “safflower artemisia + ligusticum” decoction for headache, “safflower artemisia + diyu” to relieve enteritis.
Conservation status and ecological significance
1.Endangered factors
- Narrow distribution, dependence on high-altitude special habitats, threatened by climate change and over-excavation.
2.Protection Recommendations
- Strengthen population monitoring and habitat protection, and prohibit illegal collection.
- Conduct artificial breeding research to promote sustainable utilization.
Bibliography
- Classification and Distribution – Flora of China
- Medicinal Value – Dictionary of Chinese Medicines
- Ecological Protection – Chengdu Wildlife Conservation Center