Plants growing at different altitudes, showcasing the influence of sunlight and soil composition on their development.

Nature's Blueprint: How Altitude and Environment Shape Medicinal Plants

Lena Kashyap in Science & Nature August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Uncover the surprising ways altitude, climate, and soil conditions influence the growth and characteristics of Pluchea indica and other vital Asteraceae plants."

For centuries, the Asteraceae family has been prized for its diverse medicinal benefits and biopesticidal properties. These adaptable plants thrive in various habitats, yet their morphology and physiological characteristics are heavily influenced by environmental factors. This raises a crucial question: How do environmental conditions shape the development and medicinal qualities of these valuable plants?

A recent study investigated the impact of habitat altitude and environmental factors on three key Asteraceae species: Pluchea indica, Ageratum conyzoides, and Elephantopus scaber. Researchers analyzed plant samples from different altitudes in East Java, Indonesia, examining stem height, leaf width, and environmental conditions to uncover correlations between altitude and plant characteristics.

The study's findings reveal fascinating insights into how environmental factors like altitude, climate, and soil composition affect the morphology of these plants, ultimately impacting their potential medicinal applications and ecological roles. Understanding these relationships is crucial for optimizing cultivation practices and harnessing the full therapeutic potential of Asteraceae species.

Decoding the Environmental Impact on Plant Development

Plants growing at different altitudes, showcasing the influence of sunlight and soil composition on their development.

The research team collected samples of Pluchea indica, Ageratum conyzoides, and Elephantopus scaber from three distinct locations in East Java, Indonesia, each characterized by different altitudes:

The team meticulously measured various environmental factors at each site, including altitude, light intensity, oxygen levels, soil pH, soil temperature, soil humidity, organic compounds, carbon levels, nitrogen levels, water levels, porosity, dust, sand, and soil humidity. Plant samples were carefully analyzed for stem height and leaf width, and statistical analyses were performed to identify correlations between environmental factors and plant morphology.

Low-Altitude (Bangkalan-Madura: 28, 3-31, 72 m asl): Characterized by sandy soil, high water content, low organic matter, and high soil temperature, humidity, and light intensity.
Intermediate-Altitude (Trawas-Mojokerto: 727-937 m asl): Dominated by clayey soil, high carbon and nitrogen content, and good soil and air humidity.
High-Altitude (Coban Talun-Bumiaji Batu: 1303-1322 m asl): Features sandy soil with high water levels, total nitrogen, oxygen levels, soil pH, and organic matter content.

The study revealed that altitude and associated environmental factors significantly influence the morphological characteristics of the studied Asteraceae species. Ageratum conyzoides and Elephantopus scaber exhibited the greatest stem height at intermediate altitudes, while Pluchea indica grew tallest at high altitudes. Conversely, plants at low altitudes generally displayed the widest leaves. These findings underscore the remarkable adaptability of these species to varying environmental conditions.

Implications and Future Directions

This research highlights the critical role of environmental factors in shaping the growth and development of medicinal plants like Pluchea indica, Ageratum conyzoides, and Elephantopus scaber. The study's findings have significant implications for optimizing cultivation practices to enhance the medicinal properties of these species.

Understanding the specific environmental conditions that promote desirable traits can lead to more effective cultivation strategies, ensuring a consistent supply of high-quality medicinal plants for herbal medicine and biopesticide applications. Further research is needed to explore the underlying genetic mechanisms that govern these morphological adaptations.

By unraveling the intricate relationships between genes, environment, and plant development, scientists can unlock new opportunities for improving crop yields, enhancing medicinal properties, and promoting sustainable agriculture. This knowledge is essential for harnessing the full potential of these valuable plant resources while preserving ecological balance.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.3844/ojbsci.2015.143.151, Alternate LINK

Title: The Relationship Between Habitat Altitude, Enviromental Factors And Morphological Characteristics Of ≪I≫Pluchea Indica≪/I≫, ≪I≫Ageratum Conyzoides≪/I≫ And ≪I≫Elephantopus Scaber≪/I≫

Subject: General Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Journal: OnLine Journal of Biological Sciences

Publisher: Science Publications

Authors: Yuliani, Soemarno, Bagyo Yanuwiadi, Amin Setyo Leksono

Published: 2015-03-01

Everything You Need To Know

How does altitude affect the physical characteristics of Pluchea indica, Ageratum conyzoides, and Elephantopus scaber?

Altitude significantly impacts the morphology of Pluchea indica, Ageratum conyzoides, and Elephantopus scaber. For instance, Ageratum conyzoides and Elephantopus scaber achieved maximum stem height at intermediate altitudes, while Pluchea indica thrived at high altitudes. Plants at lower altitudes generally exhibited wider leaves. This demonstrates how these species adapt their growth patterns in response to varying environmental conditions associated with altitude.

What role does soil composition play in the development of Pluchea indica, Ageratum conyzoides, and Elephantopus scaber at different altitudes?

The study identified that soil composition, specifically factors like organic matter, carbon, nitrogen, water levels, and pH, differs significantly at various altitudes. Low altitudes had sandy soil with low organic matter, intermediate altitudes featured clayey soil with high carbon and nitrogen, and high altitudes presented sandy soil with high water levels and organic matter. These variations in soil directly influence the nutrient availability and growing conditions for Pluchea indica, Ageratum conyzoides, and Elephantopus scaber.

How could the findings from this study be used to improve the cultivation of Pluchea indica, Ageratum conyzoides, and Elephantopus scaber for medicinal purposes?

This research suggests that by understanding how environmental factors like altitude influence the growth and medicinal properties of Pluchea indica, Ageratum conyzoides, and Elephantopus scaber, we can optimize their cultivation. For example, if we know that high nitrogen levels at intermediate altitudes promote stem growth in Ageratum conyzoides, we can replicate these conditions in cultivation to maximize yield and potency.

What aspects of plant adaptation were not explored in this study regarding Pluchea indica, Ageratum conyzoides, and Elephantopus scaber?

While the research focused on altitude, light intensity, oxygen levels, soil pH, soil temperature, soil humidity, organic compounds, carbon levels, nitrogen levels, water levels, porosity, dust, sand, and soil humidity, it did not delve into the specific genetic mechanisms that allow Pluchea indica, Ageratum conyzoides, and Elephantopus scaber to adapt to these different environments. Future studies could explore the genetic basis of these adaptations to provide a more complete understanding.

What are the broader implications of this research for the conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plants like Pluchea indica, Ageratum conyzoides, and Elephantopus scaber?

The findings highlight the crucial role of environmental factors in shaping the medicinal properties and ecological functions of Pluchea indica, Ageratum conyzoides, and Elephantopus scaber. Understanding these relationships is vital for ensuring the sustainable use of these species in herbal medicine and for maintaining ecological balance. Altering environmental conditions due to climate change or habitat destruction could have profound effects on the availability and efficacy of these medicinal plants.