Boerhavia elegans

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Boerhavia elegans subsp. stenophylla
• Boerhavia diffusa var. ehrenbergii
• Boerhavia elegans var. stenophylla
• Boerhavia rubicunda var. stenophylla
• Boerhavia repens var. ehrenbergii
• Boerhavia repens var. elegans

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Caryophyllales, it is classified under the family Nyctaeginaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation is placed within the genus Boerhavia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is noted within the borders of Niger. Moving toward the northeast, the species is also found throughout the territory of Chad. Its range extends further into Northeast Tropical Africa to include the nation of Djibouti. Finally, the distribution continues through Eritrea and into Somalia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Boerhavia elegans is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its growth habit and ecological positioning, the species is classified as a chamaephyte, a life form where the permanent shoots are located close to the soil surface. This specific life form, categorized under both the chamaephyte and chamaephyte classifications, enables the plant to thrive by maintaining its regenerative structures near the ground, providing resilience against environmental fluctuations.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Boerhavia elegans is characterized by a prostrate or ascending herbaceous habit, typically forming mats through spreading, rooting stems. The stems are slender, cylindrical, and often exhibit a reddish tint, branching frequently to create a dense ground cover. The leaves are simple, opposite, and petiolate, displaying an elliptical to oblong shape with entire margins and acute to acuminate apices. The inflorescence is typically a small, axillary cyme consisting of numerous minute, pink to white flowers with five petals. The fruit is a characteristic schizocarp, often featuring fleshy or tuberculate structures that aid in dispersal. Regarding its ecological interaction and nutritional strategy, the plant is classified as an independent organism rather than a parasite; specifically, it is an independent species, meaning it lacks any obligatory, facultative, or parasitic dependency on host plants for its survival and nutrient acquisition.

Parasite :

independent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Boerhavia elegans has 4 reported plant parts identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root, stem, seed.

Leaf

1. ACS omega
2. Toxics

Root

1. ACS omega
2. Toxics

Stem

1. Analytical science advances
2. Toxics

Seed

1. Toxics

Chemicals

Boerhavia elegans has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ARSENIC, CADMIUM, CHROMIUM, COPPER, IRON.

ARSENIC

1. Toxics

CADMIUM

1. Toxics

CHROMIUM

1. Toxics

COPPER

1. Toxics

IRON

1. Toxics

LEAD

1. Toxics

MAGNESIUM

1. Toxics

MANGANESE

1. Toxics

NICKEL

1. Toxics

ZINC

1. Toxics

Conditions

Boerhavia elegans has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include malaria.

Malaria

1. Malaria journal

Preparations

Boerhavia elegans has 7 reported preparations identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Ethyl acetate fractions, butanol extract, chloroform extract, leaf hexane extracts, methanol extract.

Ethyl acetate fractions

1. ACS omega

Butanol extract

1. Analytical science advances

Chloroform extract

1. Analytical science advances

Leaf hexane extracts

1. ACS omega

Methanol extract

1. Analytical science advances

Methanol extracts

1. ACS omega

N-hexane extract

1. Analytical science advances