Hog Meat

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Hog Meat
• Hog Meat Bush
• Potta Potta
• hogweed
• red spiderling
• Boerhavia bracteata

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Boerhavia diffusa var. undulata
• Boerhavia coccinea var. paniculata
• Boerhavia coccinea var. pubescens
• Boerhavia diffusa var. paniculata
• Boerhavia adscendens var. pubescens
• Boerhavia polymorpha
• Boerhavia ramulosa
• Boerhavia viscosa
• Boerhavia viscosa subsp. apiculata
• Boerhavia viscosa f. oligadena
• Boerhavia diffusa var. xerophila
• Boerhavia glandulosa
• Boerhavia ixodes
• Boerhavia marlothii
• Boerhavia obtusifolia
• Boerhavia diffusa var. obtusifolia
• Boerhavia diffusa var. hirsuta
• Boerhavia diffusa var. viscosa
• Boerhavia coccinea f. parcehirsuta
• Boerhavia coccinea var. viscosa
• Boerhavia bracteata
• Boerhavia caribaea
• Boerhavia diffusa f. crassifolia
• Boerhavia agglutinans
• Boerhavia patula
• Boerhavia nantocana
• Boerhavia repens var. undulata
• Boerhavia repens subsp. viscosa
• Boerhavia reboudiana
• Boerhavia sonorae
• Boerhavia squamata

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. Following the subclass Magnoliidae, it is placed in the order Caryophyllales and the family Nyctaginaceae. Finally, it is identified under the genus Boerhavia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several key regions in the Mediterranean and surrounding areas. In Southeastern Europe, its presence can be specifically noted in Sicilia. The species is also well-established across various parts of Northern Africa. Within this region, it is found in Algeria, Egypt, and Libya. Additionally, its range extends further west to include Morocco.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Boerhavia coccineae is characterized by its broad adaptability to varying altitudes and its tendency to colonize disturbed landscapes. This species exhibits a significant elevational range, occupying environments from sea level up to a maximum altitude of 2000 m AMSL. Regarding its preferred environment, the plant is frequently found in "Área Antrópica" (anthropic areas), indicating a high tolerance for habitats modified by human activity, such as roadsides, agricultural edges, or urbanized zones.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Genetics

The genetics of Boerhavia coccineae are characterized by a complex chromosomal configuration that suggests a history of polyploidy or genomic variation within the species. Cytogenetic analyses of the plant reveal distinct chromosome numbers, specifically documented at 24 and 54. These varying counts indicate a diverse karyotype that may influence the plant's evolutionary adaptation, phenotypic plasticity, and its ability to thrive in diverse ecological niches. The presence of these multiple chromosomal states highlights a significant level of genetic complexity, which is a critical factor in understanding the species' reproductive biology and its potential for genetic divergence.

Chromosome number :

24, 54

Life history

The life history of Boerhavia coccineae is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its biological structure and survival strategy, it is classified as a therophyte, meaning it completes its life cycle through seeds that remain dormant during unfavorable conditions, ensuring the species can re-emerge when environmental circumstances are optimal. This specific life form is consistent across its developmental stages, identifying it as a therophyte in both its fundamental growth habit and its ecological classification.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Boerhavia coccineae is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb, which functions as a self-supporting plant rather than an obligatory or facultative climber. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit epiphytic behavior, functioning instead as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies. The plant's physical structure is relatively low-profile, with a plant height ranging from 0 to a maximum of 2 meters. Its habit is strictly terrestrial, spanning across various environments without being aquatic or semiaquatic.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height min:

0 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Boerhavia coccineum is characterized by a specialized metabolic efficiency, utilizing a C4 photosynthetic pathway to optimize carbon fixation and enhance water-use efficiency under varying environmental conditions. The structural morphology of its foliage supports this metabolic activity, with leaves reaching a maximum length of 5 cm and a maximum width of 3.5 cm. These dimensions, combined with its specific photosynthetic adaptations, allow the plant to maintain robust physiological functions and energy production.

Leaf length max:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

3.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C4

Reproduction

The reproduction of Boerhavia coccineas involves the production of small, dry fruits that typically measure between 0.3 cm and 0.4 cm in length. Within these fruits, the seeds are characterized by a consistent volume of approximately 2 mm³, with no recorded variation between the minimum and maximum seed volume values. The mass of these seeds exhibits significant variability, ranging from a minimum of 0.00008 g to a maximum of 0.004022 g, with an average seed mass of 0.002118 g. Regarding its dispersal strategy, the plant utilizes a zoochorous syndrome, though its reproductive success may also be influenced by anemochorous, autochorous, hydrochorous, or unspecialized dispersal mechanisms.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

0.4 cm

Fruit length min:

0.3 cm

Seed mass max:

0.004022 g

Seed mass mean:

0.002118 g

Seed mass min:

8e-05 g

Seed volume max:

2 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Boerhavia coccinea has 2 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root.

Leaf

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Root

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS
2. Journal of environmental biology

Chemicals

Boerhavia coccinea has 29 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include boeravinone B, Flavonoids, caffeic acid, quercetin, Betanin.

boeravinone B

1. BMB reports
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
3. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics

Flavonoids

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Fitoterapia

caffeic acid

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

quercetin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Betanin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Boeravinone G

1. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics

CHLOROFORM

1. Journal of environmental biology

ETHYL ACETATE

1. Journal of environmental biology

Eupalitin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Glycosides

1. Fitoterapia

Activities

Boerhavia coccinea has 11 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, Antifungal.

Antibacterial

1. Fitoterapia
2. Frontiers in chemistry
3. Discover nano

Anticancer

1. Fitoterapia
2. Frontiers in chemistry
3. Discover nano

Antioxidant

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Frontiers in chemistry
3. Discover nano

Antidiabetic

1. Fitoterapia
2. Frontiers in chemistry

Antifungal

1. Frontiers in chemistry
2. Discover nano

Antimicrobial

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Frontiers in chemistry

Hepatoprotective

1. Fitoterapia
2. Frontiers in chemistry

Antiaging

1. Frontiers in chemistry

Antifertility

1. Frontiers in chemistry

Cardioprotective

1. Frontiers in chemistry

Preparations