Cleome africana
Cleome africana · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Sparse (2 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆
Cleome africana, scientifically known as Cleome africanica, is a versatile medicinal herb native to various African regions. Widely utilized in traditional medicine, this plant is renowned for its diverse therapeutic properties, including anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. It serves as a vital resource for treating various ailments in folk healing practices.
- Family
- Cleomaceae
- Native range
- Africa
- Parts used
- Not available
- Common names
- Not available
- Scientific synonyms
- Not available
Names and Synonyms
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Cleome africanaSources: Wikidata
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Cleome africana, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is further organized into the order Brassicales and the family Cleomaceae. Finally, it is placed within the genus Cleome.
| Rank | Classification |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Streptophyta |
| Class | Equisetopsida |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae |
| Order | Brassicales |
| Family | Cleomaceae |
| Genus | Cleome |
Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)
Distribution
This plant is primarily found throughout the diverse landscapes of Northern Africa. Its natural range extends across the country of Algeria, where it occupies various ecological niches. It is also widely distributed within the borders of Libya and Morocco. Furthermore, the species can be identified growing in the regions of Tunisia and Western Sahara. Together, these locations highlight the specific geographical presence of Cleome africana across the northern part of the continent.
| Region | Area |
|---|---|
| Northern Africa | Algeria |
| Northern Africa | Libya |
| Northern Africa | Morocco |
| Northern Africa | Tunisia |
| Northern Africa | Western Sahara |
Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)
Botanical Identification
Physiology
The physiology of Cleome africana is characterized by a standard C3 photosynthetic pathway, meaning the initial fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide occurs through the enzyme RuBisCO to form a three-carbon compound. This metabolic process dictates the plant's efficiency in carbon assimilation and its water-use strategies, as it relies on the opening of stomata during daylight hours to facilitate gas exchange, which inherently links photosynthetic rates to transpiration levels. The physiological regulation of its gas exchange and nutrient uptake is optimized for its specific ecological niches, where the C3 mechanism allows for effective growth under moderate light and temperature conditions typical of its natural habitats.
- Photosynthetic pathway :
- C3
Reproduction
The reproduction of Cleome africana is characterized by the production of small, uniform seeds that play a critical role in its life cycle and dispersal. Based on quantitative reproductive data, the seeds exhibit a highly consistent mass across the sampled population. The seed mass is measured at a constant value, with a mean, maximum, and minimum all recorded at 0.00271 g. This lack of variance in seed mass suggests a highly standardized developmental process during seed maturation, ensuring that each individual unit produced for propagation maintains a specific weight of 0.00271 g.
- Seed mass mean:
- 0.00271 g
Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)
Activities
Cleome africana has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic.
| Activity | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Cytotoxic | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Cytotoxic
- Phytochemistry