African Coromandel

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• African Coromandel

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Asystasia micrantha
• Asystasia coromandeliana var. linearifolia
• Ramusia nyctaginea
• Ruellia intrusa
• Ruellia biloba
• Dyschoriste biloba
• Tyloglossa longipes
• Asystasia parvula
• Asystasia subhastata
• Asystasia acuminata
• Asystasia ansellioides var. lanceolata
• Asystasia comorensis
• Asystasia coromandeliana var. micrantha
• Asystasia chelonoides var. arabica
• Asystasia floribunda
• Asystasia gangetica subsp. micrantha
• Asystasia capensis
• Asystasia bojeriana
• Asystasia pinguifolia
• Asystasia podostachys
• Asystasia pubescens
• Asystasia scabrida
• Asystasia querimbensis
• Asystasia multiflora

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Asystasia intrusa, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Lamiales and the family Acanthaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Asystasia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily found across the diverse landscapes of West Tropical Africa. Within this broad region, its presence is documented in the nation of Benin. It also grows naturally throughout the territories of Burkina and Gambia. Furthermore, the species can be located within the borders of Ghana. Finally, its geographical range extends into Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Asystasia intrusa is characterized by a broad adaptive capacity across diverse altitudinal gradients, allowing it to colonize a wide variety of landscapes. This species exhibits a significant elevational range, thriving in habitats starting from as low as 5 m AMSL and extending up to a maximum altitude of 950 m AMSL. This expansive vertical distribution suggests that the plant is capable of tolerating varying thermal regimes and atmospheric pressures, ranging from lowland tropical or subtropical conditions to mid-elevation montane environments. Such ecological flexibility typically indicates an ability to occupy various niches, including forest edges, disturbed sites, or open understories, where it can successfully compete within its specified altitudinal limits.

Elevational range max:

950 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

5 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Asystasia intrusa is characterized by its classification as a perennial species, meaning it can live for multiple years, though its growth patterns may exhibit variable qualities depending on environmental conditions. As a perennial herb, the plant establishes a persistent presence in its habitat, often spreading through various vegetative means to maintain its population over successive growing seasons. This longevity allows it to endure seasonal shifts, frequently re-emerging from established root systems to complete its reproductive cycles. Throughout its life cycle, the plant transitions from initial establishment through stages of vegetative expansion and eventually into flowering phases, contributing to its ability to colonize and persist in diverse ecological niches.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Asystasia intrusa is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically presenting as a herbaceous plant. It functions as a self-supporting organism rather than a climber and operates as an independent species, lacking parasitic tendencies. The plant exhibits a versatile habitat range, being categorized as terrestrial, though it can also be found in aquatic or semiaquatic environments. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit epiphytic behavior. In terms of physical dimensions, the plant is relatively small to moderately sized, with a minimum height of 0.1 m and reaching a maximum height of up to 2 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Asystasia intrusa has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine

Chemicals

Asystasia intrusa has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (6S,9R)-roseoside, 6-Deoxycatalpol, Ajugol, Angeloside, Asystoside.

(6S,9R)-roseoside

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

6-Deoxycatalpol

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Ajugol

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Angeloside

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Asystoside

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Catalpol

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Ehrenoside

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Scutellarioside II

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Verbascoside

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

benzyl beta-d-glucopyranoside

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Preparations

Asystasia intrusa has 2 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include methanol extracts, methanol leaf extracts.

Methanol extracts

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine

Methanol leaf extracts

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine