White Alling

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• White Alling
• wild olive

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Bontia daphnoides var. minor
• Regina gallorum
• Bontia minor

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. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Lamiales, it is further categorized into the family Scrophulariaceae. Its specific taxonomic designation is placed within the genus Bontia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily found within specific regions of the southeastern United States and the Caribbean. In North America, its distribution is notably limited to the state of Florida. Its range extends significantly into the Caribbean islands, where it can be located in the Bahamas and the Cayman Islands. Furthermore, the species is documented growing in Cuba and on the island of Aruba. These locations represent the primary geographical areas where the plant naturally occurs.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Bontia daphnoides is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. As a long-lived species, it does not follow the rapid completion of a single season seen in annuals or the two-year cycle of biennials, but instead establishes a sustained presence through continuous vegetative growth and periodic reproductive phases. This perennial nature enables the plant to accumulate biomass and resources over time, enhancing its ability to withstand seasonal fluctuations and ensuring long-term survival within its ecological niche.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Bontia daphnoides is characterized by a growth form classified as a shrub or subshrub, exhibiting a non-woody structure throughout its development. It functions as an independent organism, neither acting as an obligatory nor facultative parasite, and maintains a terrestrial existence rather than an epiphytic or aquatic lifestyle. While its growth habit can be described as self-supporting, it lacks the specialized climbing mechanisms associated with lianas or vines, instead maintaining a stable, upright presence within its terrestrial habitat.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Bontia daphnoides has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 8-Acetylharpagide, Apigenin 7-O-glucuronide, Crenatoside, Dehydromyoporone, Flavonoids.

8-Acetylharpagide

1. RSC advances

Apigenin 7-O-glucuronide

1. RSC advances

Crenatoside

1. RSC advances

Dehydromyoporone

1. RSC advances

Flavonoids

1. RSC advances

Activities

Bontia daphnoides has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antioxidant.

Antidiabetic

1. RSC advances

Antioxidant

1. RSC advances

Conditions

Bontia daphnoides has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include diabetes mellitus, hypertension, jaundice, oxidative stress.

Diabetes mellitus

1. RSC advances

Hypertension

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Jaundice

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Oxidative stress

1. RSC advances

Preparations

Bontia daphnoides has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include hydroethanolic extract of B. daphnoides aerial parts, petals.

Hydroethanolic extract of b. daphnoides aerial parts

1. RSC advances

Petals

1. Fitoterapia