lifeplant

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• lifeplant

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Biophytum sensitivum var. sesbanioides
• Oxalis cumingiana
• Oxalis sensitiva
• Biophytum sensitivum var. assamicum
• Biophytum sensitivum var. candolleanum
• Toddavaddia sensitiva
• Biophytum sensitivum var. cumingianum
• Biophytum cumingianum
• Biophytum cumingii
• Biophytum sensitivum var. poterioides
• Biophytum sesbanioides
• Biophytum somnulentum
• Biophytum candolleanum

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Biophytum sensitivum, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Oxalidales. Finally, it is a member of the family Oxalidaceae and is situated within the genus Biophytum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning several key regions across Asia. Within China, it can be found throughout the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan provinces. Its presence extends to the island of Taiwan, which is part of the broader Eastern Asia region. Additionally, the species is documented within the Indian Subcontinent, specifically in the state of Assam. Collectively, these locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in various subtropical environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Biophytum sensitivum is closely tied to specific altitudinal gradients, as it typically thrives within a defined low-to-mid altitude niche. The species is most commonly found in environments situated within an elevational range that spans from a minimum of 200 m AMSL to a maximum of 400 m AMSL. Within this specific distribution, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 300 m AMSL, suggesting a preference for the environmental conditions, such as temperature and humidity, characteristic of these tropical or subtropical lowland zones.

Elevational range max:

400 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

300 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

200 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Biophytum sensitivum is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning it completes its entire developmental process from germination to seed production within a single growing season. In terms of its ecological life form, it is classified as a therophyte, typically surviving the unfavorable seasons as seeds rather than maintaining persistent vegetative structures above ground. Additionally, it can be described as a chamaephyte, a classification that reflects its growth habit where the buds are located close to the soil surface, allowing it to persist in various environmental niches despite its ephemeral seasonal presence.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Biophytum sensitivum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically functioning as a self-supporting herb. This plant maintains a relatively low stature, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.05 m to a maximum of 0.35 m, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 0.2125 m. It is categorized as a terrestrial species, lacking aquatic or epiphytic tendencies, and grows as an independent organism without parasitic requirements.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.35 m

Plant height mean:

0.2125 m

Plant height min:

0.05 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Biophytum sensitivum is characterized by distinct morphological variations in its foliage and specific metabolic processes. The leaves exhibit significant dimensional diversity, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.3 cm to a maximum of 1.5 cm, maintaining a mean length of approximately 0.9 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width varies from a minimum of 0.2 cm to a maximum of 0.7 cm. Regarding its nutrient acquisition and metabolic pathways, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil rather than symbiotic nitrogen fixation.

Leaf length max:

1.5 cm

Leaf length mean:

0.9 cm

Leaf length min:

0.3 cm

Leaf width max:

0.7 cm

Leaf width min:

0.2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Biophytum sensitivum involves the development of small, characteristic fruits that serve as the primary vehicle for seed dispersal. These fruits exhibit specific morphological dimensions, typically ranging in length from a minimum of 0.4 cm to a maximum of 0.5 cm. On average, the fruit length is measured at approximately 0.45 cm, reflecting a consistent structural profile during the maturation process. Once these fruits reach maturity, they facilitate the distribution of seeds, ensuring the propagation and survival of the species within its natural habitat.

Fruit length max:

0.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.45 cm

Fruit length min:

0.4 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Biophytum sensitivum has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root.

Leaf

1. Indian journal of physiology and pharmacology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Root

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Chemicals

Biophytum sensitivum has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Amentoflavone, CATALASE, Cupressuflavone, Flavonoids, Glutathione S-transferase.

Amentoflavone

1. Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & research
2. Pharmacognosy reviews

CATALASE

1. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology

Cupressuflavone

1. Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & research

Flavonoids

1. Natural product research

Glutathione S-transferase

1. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology

Hydroxyl radicals

1. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology

Isoorientin

1. Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & research

glutathione

1. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology

nitric oxide

1. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology

vitamin C

1. Natural product research

Activities

Biophytum sensitivum has 7 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antitumor, Cardioprotective, Cytotoxic.

Antioxidant

1. Natural product research
2. Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & research

Antibacterial

1. Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & research

Antitumor

1. Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & research

Cardioprotective

1. Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & research

Cytotoxic

1. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP

Hypoglycemic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Radioprotective

1. Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & research

Conditions

Biophytum sensitivum has 17 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Ehrlich ascites tumor, aldose reductase, amenorrhea, antioxidant, arthritis.

Ehrlich ascites tumor

1. Immunopharmacology and immunotoxicology

Aldose reductase

1. Natural product research

Amenorrhea

1. Pharmacognosy reviews

Antioxidant

1. Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & research

Arthritis

1. Pharmacognosy reviews

Asthma

1. Pharmacognosy reviews

Burns

1. Pharmacognosy reviews

Cough

1. Pharmacognosy reviews

Dysmenorrhea

1. Pharmacognosy reviews

Gonorrhea

1. Pharmacognosy reviews

Preparations

Biophytum sensitivum has 6 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extract, An alcoholic extract, aqueous and methanol extracts of aerial parts, aqueous extract of roots, leaf extract.

Extract

1. Drug metabolism and drug interactions
2. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology

An alcoholic extract

1. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP

Aqueous and methanol extracts of aerial parts

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Aqueous extract of roots

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Leaf extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ultrafiltration fractions of a methanol extract of roots

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR