Common Hogweed

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Alena Spiderling
• Crawling Spiderling
• anena

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Boerhavia diffusa var. minor
• Boerhavia repens var. viscosa
• Dantia nubica
• Boerhavia undulata
• Boerhavia vulvariifolia
• Boerhavia ascendens
• Boerhavia maroccana
• Boerhavia repens var. glabra
• Boerhavia pubescens
• Boerhavia repens var. maris-indici
• Boerhavia repens var. minor
• Boerhavia repens var. pubescens
• Boerhavia repens var. amphilahensis
• Boerhavia rupestris
• Boerhavia tomentosa
• Boerhavia sessiliflora
• Boerhavia suberosa
• Boerhavia sumata
• Boerhavia surinamensis
• Boerhavia diffusa var. pseudotetrandra
• Boerhavia diffusa var. sandwicensis
• Boerhavia eglandulosa
• Boerhavia diffusa var. vulvariifolia
• Boerhavia minutiflora
• Boerhavia insularis
• Boerhavia bicolor
• Boerhavia diffusa var. gymnocarpa
• Boerhavia cortensis

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Caryophyllales and is a member of the Nyctaginaceae family. Ultimately, it is categorized under the genus Boerhavia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across the Mediterranean region. In Southwestern Europe, it can be found growing within the borders of Spain. Its presence extends significantly into Northern Africa, where it inhabits the landscapes of Algeria. Furthermore, the species is widely distributed throughout Libya and Morocco. Finally, its range reaches as far east as Egypt, completing its North African coverage.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Boerhavia repens is characterized by its ability to thrive across a wide altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) to elevations as high as 1370 m AMSL. This species typically establishes itself in rocky and sandy ground, demonstrating a specialized adaptation to moisture-rich environments; it is frequently found in areas inundated by water, such as floodplains, as well as in irrigated cultivation sites. Such habitats provide the specific soil composition and hydrological conditions necessary for its growth and distribution.

Elevational range max:

1370 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

rocky and sandy ground, often in areas inundated by water, floodplains, irrigated cultivation

Genetics

The genetics of Boerhavia repens are characterized by a specific chromosomal arrangement that underpins its biological structure and reproductive capacity. The plant possesses a chromosome number of 52, providing a complex genetic framework for its cellular functions. Furthermore, its genomic organization is defined by a ploidy level of 2, indicating that the species is diploid. This combination of a relatively high chromosome count within a diploid state influences the genetic stability and hereditary patterns observed within the species.

Chromosome number :

52

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Boerhavia repens is characterized by its diverse survival strategies and growth patterns, functioning primarily as a perennial species with a lifecycle that can exhibit variability, occasionally presenting as annual or biennial depending on environmental conditions. In terms of its structural life form, the plant displays a complex botanical profile, categorized both as a chamaephyte, where the perennating buds are located near or just above the soil surface, and as a therophyte, which allows it to complete its life cycle through specialized structures that endure unfavorable seasons. This combination of life forms enables the species to adapt to various ecological niches, utilizing its creeping habit to persist across different seasonal transitions.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Boerhavia repens is characterized by a growth form categorized as a non-woody herb and a forb. This plant exhibits a prostrate shoot orientation, spreading horizontally along the ground, and functions as a self-supporting climber rather than a liana or vine. It typically reaches a mean plant height of approximately 0.5 m. As a terrestrial species, it is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte, maintaining an independent life cycle without parasitic behavior.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

0.5 m

Shoot orientation :

prostrate

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Boerhavia repens is characterized by a specialized metabolic efficiency and specific morphological dimensions. This plant utilizes a C4 photosynthetic pathway, allowing for enhanced carbon fixation and optimized resource use under varying environmental conditions. Its foliage exhibits significant morphological variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 5 cm, while the leaf width spans from 0.5 cm to a maximum of 5 cm. Structurally, the plant does not exhibit succulence, maintaining a non-succulent leaf anatomy. Furthermore, Boerhavia repens does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nutrient availability for its physiological development.

Leaf length max:

5 cm

Leaf length min:

1 cm

Leaf width max:

5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C4

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Boerhavia repens is characterized by the production of small fruits that typically measure between 0.3 cm and 0.4 cm in length. The dispersal of these fruits is facilitated through multiple mechanisms, primarily exhibiting a zoochorous dispersal syndrome. This zoochorous strategy is further categorized by its versatility, encompassing both endozoochorous and epizoochorous modes, which allows the seeds to be moved via animals through ingestion or by clinging to their bodies. While the plant utilizes these animal-mediated methods, its dispersal profile also includes other potential syndromes such as anemochorous, autochorous, hydrochorous, anthropochorous, myrmecochorous, and unspecialized modes, ensuring a wide range of movement for its reproductive units.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit length max:

0.4 cm

Fruit length min:

0.3 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Boerhavia repens 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. Parasitology international

Chemicals

Boerhavia repens has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 5,7,3'-Trihydroxycoumaronochromone, boeravinone F.

5,7,3'-Trihydroxycoumaronochromone

1. Natural product communications

boeravinone F

1. Natural product communications

Activities

Boerhavia repens has 2 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiglycation, Antioxidant.

Antiglycation

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Antioxidant

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Conditions

Boerhavia repens has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Plasmodium falciparum, parasitemia.

Plasmodium falciparum

1. Parasitology international

Parasitemia

1. Parasitology international

Preparations

Boerhavia repens has 5 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Crude aqueous extract, ethanolic leaf extracts, methanol extract, methanolic extracts, methanolic leaf extracts.

Crude aqueous extract

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Ethanolic leaf extracts

1. Parasitology international

Methanol extract

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Methanolic extracts

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Methanolic leaf extracts

1. Parasitology international