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Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Blackdot
• Indian Bread Root
• Malaysian Scurfpea
• Scurfy Pea
• scurfy-pea

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lotodes corylifolium
• Bipontinia corylifolia
• Dorychnium corylifolium
• Lotodes corylifolium var. parvifolium
• Psoralea corylifolia
• Psoralea patersoniae
• Trifolium unifolium

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Fabales, placing it in the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Cullen, and its specific species name, corylifolium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread presence across several key regions in Africa and the Indian Ocean. In Northeast Tropical Africa, it can be found inhabiting the landscapes of Djibouti, Somalia, and the island of Socotra. Its distribution extends significantly into the Western Indian Ocean as well. Specifically, the species is documented growing on the island of Mauritius. Furthermore, its range reaches the island of Réunion, completing its unique geographical footprint.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cullen corylifolium is strictly defined by its preference for high-altitude montane environments, where it thrives within a specific vertical niche. This species is primarily found in specialized mountain ecosystems, occupying an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 1500 m AMSL and extends to a maximum of 1920 m AMSL. This narrow altitudinal band suggests that the plant is adapted to the unique climatic conditions, such as cooler temperatures, higher UV exposure, and specific moisture regimes, characteristic of these mid-to-high mountain zones. Such precise ecological constraints indicate that its distribution is heavily dependent on the stable environmental parameters provided by this specific elevation gradient.

Elevational range max:

1920 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1500 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Cullen corylifolium is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. Throughout its biological cycle, the plant undergoes various developmental stages, exhibiting a lifecycle that can be classified as variable depending on environmental conditions and resource availability. As a perennial species, it establishes a robust root system that enables it to survive dormant periods, eventually re-emerging to undergo seasonal vegetative growth and reproductive phases. This longevity supports its ability to produce flowers and seeds over several years, contributing to its long-term presence within its natural habitat.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cullen corylifolium is characterized by a growth form categorized as both a herb and a forb, manifesting a non-woody structure. It typically reaches an average plant height of approximately 0.6 m. The plant is terrestrial in its habitat, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of its physical habit, it is a self-supporting species, lacking the climbing mechanisms of a liana or vine.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

0.6 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cullen corylifolium is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which involves the direct fixation of carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle within the mesophyll cells. In addition to its carbon assimilation mechanisms, the plant functions as a nitrogen fixer, utilizing symbiotic relationships to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a bioavailable form to support its metabolic processes and growth.

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cullen corylifolium is driven by a biotic pollination syndrome, relying primarily on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. This insect-mediated process ensures genetic exchange through biological vectors rather than abiotic factors like wind or water. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces seeds characterized by a highly uniform mass; both the minimum, maximum, and mean seed mass are recorded at precisely 0.01762 g. This consistency in seed weight suggests a stabilized reproductive output per seed produced by the species.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass mean:

0.01762 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Cullen corylifolium has 3 reported plant parts identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed, fruit, leaf.

Seed

1. Planta medica
2. Archives of pharmacal research
3. Natural product research
4. Frontiers in pharmacology
5. Reviews in the neurosciences

Fruit

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Toxicology reports

Leaf

1. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)
2. F1000Research

Chemicals

Cullen corylifolium has 102 reported phytochemicals identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Psoralen, Bakuchiol, ISOPSORALEN, Psoralidin, Neobavaisoflavone.

Psoralen

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology
3. Fitoterapia
4. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
5. Toxicology reports

Bakuchiol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Oncotarget
3. Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology
4. Fitoterapia
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

ISOPSORALEN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant science : an international journal of experimental plant biology
3. Fitoterapia
4. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
5. Toxicology reports

Psoralidin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmacological reports : PR
3. Fitoterapia
4. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
5. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

Neobavaisoflavone

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmacological reports : PR
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
4. International journal of molecular sciences
5. Planta medica

Bavachinin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Fitoterapia
3. International immunopharmacology
4. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
5. Planta medica

Corylin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Infectious disorders drug targets
4. Planta medica
5. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Coumarins

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Frontiers in pharmacology
4. The American journal of Chinese medicine
5. Ayu

Flavonoids

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Frontiers in pharmacology
3. The American journal of Chinese medicine
4. Ayu

daidzein

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. International journal of molecular sciences
4. Journal of natural products

Activities

Cullen corylifolium has 285 reported activities identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Anticancer, Antitumor, Antibacterial, Antimicrobial.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Fitoterapia
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
4. Scientific reports
5. Chinese medicine

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)
3. Pharmaceutical biology
4. Chemistry & biodiversity
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmacological reports : PR
3. Fitoterapia
4. The American journal of Chinese medicine
5. Chinese medicine

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Fitoterapia
3. Chinese medicine
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antimicrobial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. The American journal of Chinese medicine
4. F1000Research

Estrogenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. The American journal of Chinese medicine
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antidepressant

1. Dr. Duke
2. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. F1000Research

Chemopreventive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmacological reports : PR

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Archives of pharmacal research

Medicinal Uses

Cullen corylifolium has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Vitiligo.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations