Christia vespertilionis
Christia vespertilionis, commonly known as the Bat Flower, is a captivating ornamental plant prized for its unique, bat-shaped blooms. Beyond its striking aesthetic appeal, this species holds significant interest in ethnobotany. Its distinct morphological features and traditional uses make it a fascinating subject for studying medicinal plant biodiversity.
- Scientific name: Christia vespertilionis
- Family: Fabaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Under the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized into the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is identified under the specific genus Christia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Christia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Christia vespertilionis, is known by various common names depending on the language and region. In Chinese, it is referred to as 蝙蝠草, which is used across different dialects including zh-cn and zh-tw, or alternatively as 月见罗藟草. In Japanese, the species is commonly called ヒコウキソウ.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 蝙蝠草 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 蝙蝠草 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 蝙蝠草 | Wikidata |
| ja | ヒコウキソウ | Wikidata |
| zh | 月见罗藟草 | Wikidata |
| zh | 蝴蝶草 | Wikidata |
| zh | 雷州蝴蝶草 | Wikidata |
| zh | 双飞蝴蝶 | Wikidata |
| zh | 飞锡草 | Wikidata |
| zh | 半边钱 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several distinct regions of Asia and the Indian Ocean. Within the Western Indian Ocean, it can be found specifically on the island of Mauritius. Its presence in China extends from the tropical island of Hainan to the broader China Southeast region. Additionally, the species is distributed across the Indian Subcontinent, occurring in both Assam and Bangladesh. These diverse locations highlight the varied ecological range inhabited by Christia vespertilionis.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Western Indian Ocean | Mauritius | WCVP |
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | East Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Nepal | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Pakistan | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Sri Lanka | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Christia vespertilionis, possesses several distinct morphological components that are of interest in botanical and medicinal studies. The physical structure is supported by its stems, which provide the necessary framework for the plant's growth and distribution of nutrients. Beneath the surface, the roots serve as the vital anchoring system and primary site for water and mineral absorption. The foliage is characterized by its unique leaves, which are often the focus of taxonomic identification. Furthermore, in pharmacological research, the methanolic leaves extract is frequently utilized to isolate bioactive compounds, allowing scientists to investigate the plant's potential therapeutic properties.- Total parts
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| stems | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methanolic leaves extract | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Christia vespertilionis has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 7-tetradecenal, aloeemodin-8-monoglucoside, bruceine I, linolenic acid, palmitic acid.
- Total chemicals
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| 7-tetradecenal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aloeemodin-8-monoglucoside | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bruceine I | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| linolenic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| palmitic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sanjidin B | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Christia vespertilionis has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antidiabetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Christia vespertilionis has 3 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, antidiabetic.
- Total uses
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| COVID-19 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| SARS-CoV-2 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antidiabetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |