Broom Creeper

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Evolvulus gangeticus
• Merremia gangetica
• Cocculus villosus var. glabratus
• Menispermum hirsutum
• Menispermum hastatum
• Menispermum myosotoides
• Cocculus hastatus
• Cocculus holopeira-torrida
• Cocculus linnaeanus
• Cocculus sepium
• Convolvulus gangeticus
• Holopeira auriculata
• Holopeira laeviuscula
• Holopeira torrida
• Cebatha hirsuta
• Cocculus aristolochiae

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Ranunculales, it is classified under the family Menispermaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is established within the genus Cocculus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide distribution across several regions of the African continent. In Northeast Tropical Africa, it can be found growing in Eritrea, Ethiopia, and the areas encompassing Sudan and South Sudan. Its presence also extends into East Tropical Africa, where it is documented in Kenya. Furthermore, the species is known to inhabit various parts of Tanzania. Together, these locations highlight the specific tropical environments where this medicinal plant thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cocculus hirsutus is defined by its adaptability to varied topographical gradients, specifically thriving within an elevational range that spans from a minimum of 50 m AMSL to a maximum of 1200 m AMSL. This plant typically colonizes open, dry habitats such as rocky terrains, scrublands, and deciduous forests, where it can withstand varying degrees of solar exposure and seasonal fluctuations. Its distribution is closely tied to specific soil compositions and moisture availability found within these altitudinal limits, allowing it to occupy niche environments ranging from lowland plains to mid-altitude hilly regions.

Elevational range max:

1200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

50 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Cocculus hirsutus is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle in a single year. As a perennial species, it maintains a long-term presence in its natural habitat, often developing a robust root system that supports its survival during dormant periods. This lifecycle enables the plant to establish itself firmly in its environment, providing it with the capacity to regrow and bloom repeatedly over several years. Throughout its existence, the plant undergoes recurring phases of vegetative growth and reproductive cycles, contributing to its sustained presence within its ecological niche.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cocculus hirsutus is characterized by its growth as a woody liana, functioning as an obligatory climber that reaches significant heights ranging from a minimum of 1.5 m to a maximum of 15 m, with an average plant height of approximately 10 m. This species exhibits a terrestrial habit, existing as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte, and falls under a growth form classified as other.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

other

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15 m

Plant height mean:

10 m

Plant height min:

1.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cocculus hirsutus is characterized by its specific metabolic and nutrient acquisition processes. The plant utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common mechanism for carbon fixation in many terrestrial species where carbon dioxide is initially incorporated into a three-carbon compound. Furthermore, Cocculus hirsutus is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, and instead relies on the uptake of available nitrogenous compounds from the soil.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cocculus hirsutus is characterized by specific botanical parameters regarding its seed development and pollination mechanisms. The plant does not exhibit self-fertilization, as the trait is noted to be absent, suggesting a reliance on cross-pollination strategies to ensure genetic diversity. In terms of its reproductive output, the seeds produced by this species are highly uniform in size; the seed mass is recorded with a consistent value of 0.01024 g, with the minimum, maximum, and mean mass all aligning at this exact measurement.

Seed mass mean:

0.01024 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Cocculus hirsutus has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 3-Methylmannoside, CHLOROFORM, ETHYL ACETATE, HEXANE, acetone.

3-Methylmannoside

1. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology

CHLOROFORM

1. Parasitology research

ETHYL ACETATE

1. Parasitology research

HEXANE

1. Parasitology research

acetone

1. Parasitology research

methanol

1. Parasitology research

polyphenols

1. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine

Activities

Cocculus hirsutus has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Free-Radical Scavenging.

Antioxidant

1. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine

Free-Radical Scavenging

1. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine

Conditions

Cocculus hirsutus has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include alcoholic liver disease, obesity, wounds.

Alcoholic liver disease

1. Current drug metabolism

Obesity

1. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology

Wounds

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine

Preparations

Cocculus hirsutus has 5 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include CHP, aqueous extracts, hydromethanolic fraction (HMF), methanol extract (CME), methanolic extract.

Chp

1. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine

Aqueous extracts

1. International journal of mycobacteriology

Hydromethanolic fraction (hmf)

1. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology

Methanol extract (cme)

1. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology

Methanolic extract

1. Ancient science of life