Ammannia multiflora

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ammannia madagascariensis
• Ammannia microcarpa
• Ammannia japonica
• Ammannia parviflora
• Ammannia multiflora f. decipiens
• Ammannia multiflora var. parviflora
• Ammannia multiflora f. ramosissima
• Ammannia australasica
• Ammannia senegalensis var. multiflora

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Myrtales, it is classified under the family Lythraceae. Specifically, its taxonomic designation is placed within the genus Ammannia, with the species being Ammannia multiflora.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse range of locations across the African continent. In Northern Africa, its presence is specifically noted within the borders of Egypt. Moving toward the center, it can be found in the West-Central Tropical Africa region, particularly in the DR Congo. Its distribution extends to Northeast Tropical Africa, where it grows in both Socotra and the areas of Sudan and South Sudan. Finally, the species reaches East Tropical Africa, specifically within the territory of Tanzania.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Amannnia multiflora is characterized by its presence in diverse moisture-rich environments, specifically thriving within swamps and occasionally appearing in crop fields. This species occupies a specific altitudinal niche, maintaining an elevational range that extends from a minimum of 1000 m AMSL to a maximum of 1800 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1000 m AMSL

Habitat :

crop fields, swamps

Life history

The life history of Ammannia multiflora is characterized by a variable lifecycle, as it can function as an annual, biennial, or perennial depending on the environmental conditions and habitat stability. During its developmental stages, the plant progresses through distinct phases of germination, vegetative growth, flowering, and seed production. As a variable-lifecycle species, it demonstrates significant ecological plasticity, allowing it to adapt its reproductive strategy to the availability of moisture and nutrients in its specific niche. In favorable, stable environments, it may persist as a perennial, establishing a more permanent presence, whereas in more ephemeral or disturbed habitats, it may complete its life cycle more rapidly as an annual to ensure the dispersal of seeds before conditions become unfavorable.

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Ammannia multiflora is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber or a liana, and it grows as an independent organism rather than a parasite. This species is terrestrial in nature, rather than being aquatic, semiaquatic, or an epiphyte. In terms of stature, it is a relatively low-growing plant with a height that ranges from a minimum of 0 m to a maximum of 0.75 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 0.3 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.75 m

Plant height mean:

0.3 m

Plant height min:

0 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ammannia multiflora is characterized by specific morphological adaptations in its foliage and a distinct metabolic profile regarding nutrient acquisition. The leaves exhibit a variable size range, with lengths spanning from a minimum of 0.5 cm to a maximum of 5 cm, while the width of the leaves fluctuates between 0.15 cm and 0.8 cm. These dimensions suggest a specialized leaf structure optimized for its specific environmental niche. Furthermore, in terms of its biochemical nitrogen cycling, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil rather than through symbiotic nitrogen-fixing processes.

Leaf length max:

5 cm

Leaf length min:

0.5 cm

Leaf width max:

0.8 cm

Leaf width min:

0.15 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ammannia multiflora is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering window and specialized seed dispersal mechanisms. The plant enters its flowering phase in July and concludes this period in August. During this stage, it produces fruit in the form of a capsule, which is categorized as a dehiscence type, meaning the fruit splits open at maturity to release its contents. The seeds produced are exceptionally fine, with a highly consistent mass; both the mean, minimum, and maximum seed mass are recorded at approximately 1e-05 g.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit type :

capsule

Seed mass mean:

1e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Ammannia multiflora has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 4-O-(3,4,5-TRIMETHOXYBENZOYL)-ALPHA-TETRALONE.

4-O-(3,4,5-TRIMETHOXYBENZOYL)-ALPHA-TETRALONE

1. Natural product communications

Conditions

Ammannia multiflora has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Escherichia coli.

Escherichia coli

1. Planta medica