Khouniza

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Siliquaria arabica
• Cleome aschersoniana
• Sinapistrum lanatum
• Cleome siliquaria
• Cleome trinervia

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Further taxonomic descent places it in the subclass Magnoliidae and order Brassicales. Finally, Cleome arabica is a member of the family Cleomaceae and the genus Cleome.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several regions in Africa. In Northern Africa, it is specifically documented within the borders of Egypt. Moving toward the West Tropical Africa region, the species can be found in Niger. Its presence also extends into Northeast Tropical Africa, where it grows in Chad. Furthermore, the plant is widely distributed across the Northeast Tropical African landscapes of both Eritrea and Ethiopia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Cleome arabica is characterized by its existence as an annual plant, completing its entire developmental cycle from germination to seed production within a single growing season. Functioning as a therophyte, the plant survives unfavorable environmental conditions by producing resilient seeds that remain dormant until favorable moisture and temperature levels trigger new growth. This life strategy allows it to rapidly exploit ephemeral resources in its habitat, focusing its energy on swift vegetative growth followed by prolific flowering and seed dispersal to ensure the continuity of its lineage before the onset of seasonal stress.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Cleome arabica is characterized by its growth form as a subshrub, exhibiting a structure that bridges the gap between a herbaceous plant and a woody shrub. It is a non-woody species, lacking significant lignification in its stems. In terms of its ecological niche and habitat preference, the plant is primarily terrestrial, though it can occupy various moisture gradients ranging from aquatic to semiaquatic environments. Furthermore, Cleome arabica functions as an independent organism, showing no parasitic tendencies toward other plants.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Growth form :

subshrub

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cleome arabica is characterized by a metabolic framework defined by a C3 photosynthetic pathway. In this process, the initial fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide occurs via the enzyme Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO), which incorporates $CO_2$ into a three-carbon compound, 3-phosphoglycerate (3-PGA), within the mesophyll cells. This biochemical mechanism dictates the plant's gas exchange patterns and water-use efficiency, as it relies on the direct opening of stomata for carbon uptake, making the plant's physiological performance sensitive to ambient light intensity, temperature fluctuations, and moisture availability in its environment.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cleome arabica is characterized by specific seed morphology and dispersal mechanisms that facilitate its propagation. The seeds produced by this species are uniform in size, exhibiting a consistent seed mass where both the mean, minimum, and maximum values are recorded at 0.0017 g. In terms of its dispersal strategy, the plant utilizes an anemochorous syndrome, meaning its seeds are primarily dispersed by wind, though it may also involve elements of zoochory, autochory, hydrochory, or remain unspecialized depending on environmental conditions.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Seed mass mean:

0.0017 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Cleome arabica has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Ash, CATECHIN, Condensed Tannin, Flavonoid, Flavonoids.

Ash

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

CATECHIN

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Condensed Tannin

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Flavonoid

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Flavonoids

1. Cardiovascular & hematological agents in medicinal chemistry

Glycosides

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Lupeol

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Tannins

1. Cardiovascular & hematological agents in medicinal chemistry

VITAMIN E

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

polyphenols

1. Cardiovascular & hematological agents in medicinal chemistry

Activities

Cleome arabica has 7 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Analgesic, Antiatherogenic, Antibacterial, Antihyperglycemic.

Antioxidant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
3. EXCLI journal

Analgesic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antiatherogenic

1. Cardiovascular & hematological agents in medicinal chemistry

Antibacterial

1. EXCLI journal

Antihyperglycemic

1. Cardiovascular & hematological agents in medicinal chemistry

Antinociceptive

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hypolipidemic

1. Cardiovascular & hematological agents in medicinal chemistry

Medicinal Uses

Cleome arabica has 6 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include diabetes mellitus, inflammation, rheumatism, cancer, colic.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations