Corbichonia decumbens

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Axonotechium trianthemoides
• Portulaca decumbens
• Talinum decumbens
• Glinus mucronatus
• Diplochonium hochstetteri
• Telephium laxiflorum
• Orygia villosa
• Orygia mucronata
• Orygia decumbens
• Glinus trianthemoides

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Corbichonia decumbens, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Caryophyllales. Finally, it is classified under the family Lophiocarpaceae within the genus Corbichonia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse range of locations across the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its presence can be noted in both Mauritania and Niger. Moving toward the center of the continent, it is also found within the DR Congo of West-Central Tropical Africa. Its distribution extends further east into the Northeast Tropical Africa region. Specifically, this area includes the countries of Chad and Djibouti.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Corbichonia decumbens is characterized by its ability to thrive in diverse disturbed environments, specifically favoring open bushland and grassland settings. It frequently functions as a weed in both roadside areas and cultivated lands, demonstrating a particular affinity for sandy substrates. In terms of altitudinal distribution, the species occupies a broad vertical range, occurring at elevations starting from as low as 60 m AMSL and extending up to a maximum of 1465 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1465 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

60 m AMSL

Habitat :

open bushland and grassland, weed of roadsides and cultivation, especially sandy places

Life history

The life history of Corbichonia decumbens is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire biological progression—from germination and vegetative growth to flowering and seed production—within a single growing season. In terms of its structural life form, it is classified as a chamaephyte, a growth habit where the plant's perennating buds are located close to the soil surface, typically just above or at ground level, which often allows it to survive minor environmental stressors or seasonal changes by protecting its regenerative parts near the substrate.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Corbichonia decumbens is characterized by a herbaceous growth form, appearing as a non-woody herb. The plant is terrestrial in its habitat and functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. In terms of its structural habit, it is a self-supporting plant, lacking the climbing characteristics of a vine or liana. Its physical stature is relatively low, with a mean plant height of approximately 0.6 m and a maximum height reaching up to 0.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.6 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Corbichonia decumbens is characterized by a metabolic framework governed by a C3 photosynthetic pathway. In this process, the initial fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide occurs through the enzyme Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO), which incorporates CO2 into a three-carbon compound, 3-phosphoglycerate, during the Calvin cycle. This reliance on the C3 pathway indicates that the plant typically engages in stomatal opening during daylight hours to facilitate gas exchange, making its carbon assimilation efficiency highly dependent on ambient temperature and moisture availability. Consequently, its physiological regulation is finely tuned to manage the trade-off between carbon uptake and transpiration rates to maintain cellular homeostasis.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Corbichonia decumbens is characterized by the production of minute seeds that play a critical role in its dispersal and establishment. Quantitative analysis of its reproductive output reveals a highly uniform seed size, with a recorded seed mass mean of 0.00036 g. This uniformity is reflected in the extreme consistency of its seed weight, as both the maximum and minimum recorded seed mass values are identical at 0.00036 g. Such minimal mass suggests a reproductive strategy focused on the production of numerous small seeds, which may facilitate efficient distribution within its natural habitat.

Seed mass mean:

0.00036 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Corbichonia decumbens has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 1-Heptacosanol, Hexadecanoic acid, OCTADECANAL, Octadecanoic acid, PENTADECANOIC ACID.

1-Heptacosanol

1. Pharmacognosy research

Hexadecanoic acid

1. Pharmacognosy research

OCTADECANAL

1. Pharmacognosy research

Octadecanoic acid

1. Pharmacognosy research

PENTADECANOIC ACID

1. Pharmacognosy research

cis-vaccenic acid

1. Pharmacognosy research

guanosine

1. Pharmacognosy research

Activities

Corbichonia decumbens has 3 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Antiulcer.

Antimicrobial

1. Pharmacognosy research

Antioxidant

1. Pharmacognosy research

Antiulcer

1. Pharmacognosy research

Conditions

Corbichonia decumbens has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include arthritis, cancer, tuberculosis, ulcer.

Arthritis

1. Pharmacognosy research

Cancer

1. Pharmacognosy research

Tuberculosis

1. Pharmacognosy research

Ulcer

1. Pharmacognosy research