fire bush

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• arta

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Calligonum polygonoides subsp. comosus
• Pallasia comosa
• Calligonum mejidum
• Calligonum mejidum var. thirtharicum

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is further organized into the order Caryophyllales and the family Polygonaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Calligonum, specifically as the species Calligonum comosum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Calligonum comosum, is primarily distributed across the arid landscapes of Northern Africa. Within this region, it can be found growing in the sandy environments of Algeria. Its presence also extends through the desert territories of Egypt and Libya. Furthermore, the species is widely documented throughout the nation of Morocco. Finally, the geographical range of this medicinal plant includes the diverse terrains of Tunisia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Calligonum comosum is defined by its specialized adaptation to arid and semi-arid desert environments, where it thrives in sandy substrates and shifting dunes. This species is specifically distributed within a defined altitudinal corridor, occupying an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 500 m AMSL and extends to a maximum of 1000 m AMSL. Within these parameters, the plant plays a crucial role in stabilizing desert soils and providing microhabitats for various desert fauna. Its physiological resilience allows it to withstand extreme temperature fluctuations and low moisture availability, characteristic of the sandy terrains found within its specific elevational niche.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

500 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Calligonum comosum is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist across multiple growing seasons in its arid habitats. Structurally, it is classified as a phanerophyte, specifically exhibiting the traits of a nanophanerophyte, which indicates that its perennially renewing buds are located on aerial shoots above the soil surface. This phanerophyte life form enables the species to maintain a stable presence in desert ecosystems, utilizing its perennial nature to survive environmental fluctuations.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Calligonum comosum is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically classified as a shrub. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies, nor does it function as an epiphyte. The plant is a self-supporting organism, lacking any climbing or liana-like habits, and it grows as an independent entity rather than acting as a parasite.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Calligonum comosum is characterized by a specific phenological window and specialized dispersal mechanisms. The flowering period for this species typically begins in March and concludes in April, though the timing can be variable. Following pollination, the plant produces seeds with a relatively light profile, featuring a mean seed mass of approximately 0.0222416665 g. The individual seed weight fluctuates within a specific range, with a minimum recorded mass of 0.01755 g and a maximum mass of 0.03929 g. To facilitate the spread of its offspring, the species utilizes an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on wind currents to transport its seeds across the landscape.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Mar

Flowering time :

Apr

Seed mass max:

0.03929 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0222416665 g

Seed mass min:

0.01755 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Calligonum comosum has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, seed.

Leaf

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society
2. Frontiers in cell and developmental biology

Seed

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Chemicals

Calligonum comosum has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CAMPESTEROL, DL-ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL, Kaempferol-3-O-glucoside-7-O-rhamnoside, Sterols, Terpenoids.

CAMPESTEROL

1. Frontiers in cell and developmental biology

DL-ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL

1. Frontiers in cell and developmental biology

Kaempferol-3-O-glucoside-7-O-rhamnoside

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Sterols

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Terpenoids

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

quercetin 3-O-glucuronide

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Activities

Calligonum comosum has 2 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Cytotoxic.

Antioxidant

1. Immunological investigations

Cytotoxic

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Conditions

Calligonum comosum has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include breast cancer, bacterial infections, cancer, colon cancer.

Breast cancer

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society
2. Frontiers in cell and developmental biology

Bacterial infections

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Cancer

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Colon cancer

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Preparations

Calligonum comosum has 10 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include 10% ethanol extract of the aerial parts, Ethanol extracts of leaves, aqueous extracts, chloroform, ethanol.

10% ethanol extract of the aerial parts

1. Fitoterapia

Ethanol extracts of leaves

1. Frontiers in cell and developmental biology

Aqueous extracts

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Chloroform

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Ethanol

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Ethanolic extract

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Ethyl acetate

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Organic extracts

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Plant extracts

1. Immunological investigations

Water

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society