Lestibudesia trigyna

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Celosia
• Worm-cure Weed

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lophoxera caudata
• Lestibudesia trigyna
• Celosia trigyna var. longistyla
• Achyranthes paniculata
• Celosia laxa
• Celosia melanocarpos
• Celosia minutiflora
• Oplotheca decumbens
• Lestibudesia trigyna
• Celosia trigyna var. adoensis
• Celosia trigyna var. pauciflora
• Celosia trigyna var. brevifilamentosa
• Celosia triloba
• Celosia trigyna var. convexa
• Celosia semperflorens
• Celosia trigyna subvar. triangularis
• Celosia trigyna var. subdensiflora
• Celosia trigyna var. fasciculiflora
• Celosia digyna
• Celosia caudata
• Celosia acroprosoides
• Celosia adoensis

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 the family Amaranthaceae. Ultimately, it is categorized under the genus Celosia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution spanning parts of the Atlantic islands and the African mainland. Within the Macaronesia region, it can be found in Cape Verde. Its presence extends significantly into West Tropical Africa, where it is documented in Benin and Burkina. Furthermore, the species inhabits the coastal and inland areas of the Gambia. Finally, its range continues through the territory of Ghana.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Celosia trigyna is characterized by its ability to thrive across a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1000 m AMSL. This wide elevational range suggests a high degree of adaptability to varying environmental pressures, including fluctuations in temperature, atmospheric pressure, and moisture availability. Within this 0 to 1000 m AMSL span, the species typically colonizes open, sun-exposed habitats where it can utilize high light intensity for growth. Its distribution pattern indicates a preference for lowland to mid-elevation ecosystems, where it likely interacts with diverse soil compositions and local microclimates to establish its niche.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Celosia trigyna is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire biological development—from seed germination to flowering and seed production—within a single growing season. In terms of its growth habit and structural strategy, it is classified as a therophyte, a life form that survives the unfavorable seasons primarily in the form of seeds, which remain dormant until environmental conditions become suitable for rapid vegetative growth and reproduction.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Celosia trigyna is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb, functioning as an independent organism that does not rely on parasitic or epiphytic relationships. It is a terrestrial species that maintains a self-supporting structure rather than acting as a liana or vine. The plant exhibits significant variability in stature, with heights ranging from a minimum of approximately 0.15 m to a maximum of 3.05 m, maintaining an average plant height of roughly 1 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3.048037064 m

Plant height mean:

1 m

Plant height min:

0.152400305 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Celosia trigyna is characterized by its specific metabolic and nutrient acquisition strategies. It utilizes a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a method of carbon fixation common to many terrestrial plants where CO2 is initially incorporated into a three-carbon compound during the Calvin cycle. In terms of nutrient cycling, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable biological form, and instead relies on the uptake of nitrogenous compounds directly from the soil.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Celosia trigyna is driven by a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insect vectors to facilitate the transfer of pollen. This insect-mediated process ensures the genetic exchange necessary for the plant's life cycle. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces seeds characterized by a very small and delicate mass. The individual seed mass ranges from a minimum of 0.00013 g to a maximum of 0.00022 g, with an average seed mass of approximately 0.00017 g.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.00022 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00017 g

Seed mass min:

0.00013 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Celosia trigyna has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Chondrillasterol, Chondrillasterol acetate, Lutein, Pheophytin a.

Chondrillasterol

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Chondrillasterol acetate

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Lutein

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Pheophytin a

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Conditions

Celosia trigyna has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, wound healing.

Cancer

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

Wound healing

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Preparations

Celosia trigyna has 5 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include dichloromethane extracts, ethanolic extracts, ethyl acetate extracts, hexane extracts, methanol extracts.

Dichloromethane extracts

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Ethanolic extracts

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

Ethyl acetate extracts

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Hexane extracts

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Methanol extracts

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine