love-chain

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Coral Vine
• Coralita
• Coralito
• Corallita
• Mexican Creeper
• Confederate-vine
• Mexican-creeper
• chain-of-love
• mountain-rose coralvine
• queen's jewels
• Coral Bells
• Coral Creeper
• Honolulu Creeper
• Queen's Wreath

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Corculum leptopus
• Antigonon platypus
• Antigonon cordatum
• Antigonon amabile

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Caryophyllales. Finally, it is a member of the family Polygonaceae and is identified by the genus Antigonon.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution that spans both Atlantic islands and the African mainland. Within the Macaronesia region, its presence is recorded in the Canary Islands. Moving to West Tropical Africa, it can be found across several distinct coastal and inland territories. Specifically, the species is documented in Benin, Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau. Finally, its range extends further into the West Tropical African region through Guinea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Antigonon leptopus is characterized by its ability to thrive in a diverse range of environmental conditions, primarily occupying anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica) where human activity has altered the landscape. This species exhibits a broad vertical distribution across various landscapes, with an elevational range that extends from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 1200 m AMSL. Its presence in disturbed habitats suggests a high degree of adaptability to human-modified environments, allowing it to colonize various niches within this altitudinal gradient.

Elevational range max:

1200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Genetics

The genetics of Antigonon leptopus are characterized by a notable degree of chromosomal variability and polyploid complexity. Research into its cytogenetics reveals a wide range of chromosome numbers, specifically documented at 14, 40, 42, 44, and 48, suggesting significant evolutionary plasticity within the species. Despite this diversity in total chromosome counts, the plant is fundamentally categorized under a diploid ploidy level (2), indicating that its genetic structure is primarily organized around two sets of chromosomes, even as it exhibits the numerical fluctuations often seen in complex climbing species.

Chromosome number :

14,40,42,44,48

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Antigonon leptopus is characterized by its perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth strategy, it is classified as a phanerophyte, specifically exhibiting characteristics of a phanerophyte that enables it to thrive via climbing or sprawling mechanisms. This phanerophyte life form ensures that its buds are elevated above the ground level, contributing to its ability to colonize various habitats effectively over time.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Antigonon leptopus is characterized by its growth as a woody, scandent vine that functions as an obligatory climber. This plant exhibits a versatile growth form that can be categorized as a herb within certain contexts, yet it primarily develops as a climbing liana. In terms of stature, its height is highly variable, ranging from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of 3 meters, with a mean height typically reaching approximately 12 meters under optimal climbing conditions. It is a terrestrial species, existing as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. Its shoot orientation is specifically scandent, allowing it to ascend and spread effectively across supporting structures.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

other

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

12 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Shoot orientation :

scandent

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Antigonon leptopus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits a non-succulent morphology, lacking specialized water-storage tissues in its vegetative structures. Its foliar development follows an alternate leaf arrangement, with individual leaves varying in size from a minimum length of 2 cm to a maximum length of 16 cm, and a width ranging between 2 cm and 10 cm. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nutrient availability to support its physiological requirements and growth.

Leaf arrangement :

alternate

Leaf length max:

16 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf width max:

10 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Antigonon leptopus is characterized by its distinctive inflorescence and seasonal flowering patterns. The plant produces pink flowers arranged in a panicle, with an inflorescence length ranging from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 0.2 m. The flowering period typically begins in June and concludes in August. Following pollination, the plant develops fruit classified as a nut, which measures between 0.6 cm and 1 cm in length. These fruits are indehiscent, meaning they do not split open at maturity to release seeds. The seeds produced are uniform in mass, with both the minimum, mean, and maximum values recorded at 0.0705 g. Regarding dispersal, the species exhibits a dual strategy, utilizing anemochory (dispersal by wind) as well as anthropochory (dispersal by humans).

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

pink

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit length max:

1 cm

Fruit length min:

0.6 cm

Fruit type :

nut

Inflorescence :

panicle

Inflorescence length max:

0.2 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.1 m

Seed mass mean:

0.0705 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Antigonon leptopus has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic.

Antidiabetic

1. Current diabetes reviews

Conditions

Antigonon leptopus has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include diabetes mellitus, pain.

Diabetes mellitus

1. Current diabetes reviews

Pain

1. Pharmacognosy magazine

Preparations

Antigonon leptopus has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include methylene chloride and methanol extracts.

Methylene chloride and methanol extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology