Bousigonia mekongensis

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant, known scientifically as Bousigonia mekongengsis, exhibits a specific distribution across Southeast Asia and East Asia. Its geographical range is primarily concentrated within the Indo-China region. Specifically, it can be found growing in the countries of Laos and Vietnam. Additionally, the species extends its reach into the South-Central part of China. This limited distribution highlights the specialized environmental requirements necessary for its survival.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Bousigonia mekongensis is characterized by its specific altitudinal preferences within its native habitat. This species typically thrives in mid-elevation environments, occupying a niche that spans from a minimum of 500 m AMSL to a maximum of 800 m AMSL. Throughout its distribution, it maintains an average elevation of approximately 650 m AMSL, indicating a preference for these specific montane or sub-montane belt conditions.

Elevational range max:

800 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

650 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

500 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Bousigonia mekongensis is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its natural habitat through multiple growing seasons. As a long-lived plant, it follows a lifecycle that moves beyond the single-season constraints of annuals or the two-year cycle of biennials, establishing a stable presence within its ecological niche. This perennial nature enables the plant to invest energy into sustained vegetative growth and repeated reproductive cycles, contributing to its long-term survival and ability to adapt to the environmental conditions of its specific geographic range.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Bousigonia mekongensis is characterized by a woody growth habit, specifically manifesting as a shrub. This plant reaches a mean height of approximately 10 m and is classified as a self-supporting organism, meaning it does not rely on other structures for climbing. As an independent species, it does not function as a parasite, and its ecological positioning is strictly terrestrial rather than epiphytic.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Bousigonia mekongensis is characterized by significant morphological variability in its foliage, which plays a critical role in its photosynthetic capacity and environmental adaptation. The leaf dimensions exhibit a broad spectrum, with mean leaf lengths recorded at 10.5 cm, though individual specimens can fluctuate between a minimum of 6 cm and a maximum of 15 cm. This variation in surface area is complemented by a corresponding range in leaf width, which spans from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 4.8 cm. These physiological parameters suggest a dynamic capacity for light interception and gas exchange, allowing the plant to optimize its metabolic processes across varying microclimates.

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length mean:

10.5 cm

Leaf length min:

6 cm

Leaf width max:

4.8 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Bousigonia mekongensis is characterized by specific morphological dimensions regarding its inflorescence and fruit development. The plant produces inflorescences that are relatively small, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.002 m to a maximum of 0.01 m. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruits that exhibit significant variation in size; these fruits measure a minimum of 3 cm in length and can reach a maximum length of 5 cm, with the typical fruit length averaging approximately 4 cm.

Fruit length max:

5 cm

Fruit length mean:

4 cm

Fruit length min:

3 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.01 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.002 m

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Bousigonia mekongensis 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. Fitoterapia