golden eye-grass

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• golden eye-grass
• Golden-eyed Grass

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Hypoxis orchioides
• Curculigo orchioides var. minor
• Gethyllis acaulis
• Franquevillea major
• Curculigo pauciflora
• Curculigo petiolata
• Hypoxis dulcis
• Curculigo malabarica
• Curculigo densa
• Curculigo firma
• Curculigo stans

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, specifically classified under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Asparagales, it is a member of the family Hypoxidaceae. It is further identified by its genus, Curculigo, and its specific species name, orchioides.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated primarily across several regions of East Asia. Within China, its presence is noted in both the South-Central and Southeast territories. The species also extends its range into Japan, specifically including the Nansei-shoto islands. Furthermore, its habitat encompasses the island of Taiwan. Collectively, these locations define the natural range of Curculigo orchioides across the eastern part of the continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Curculigo orchioides is characterized by its ability to thrive in diverse and often disturbed landscapes, specifically within savanna ecosystems and dense secondary shrublands. It is frequently found inhabiting ruderal vegetation, where it colonizes areas impacted by human activity or natural disturbances. This adaptability allows the plant to establish itself in transitional habitats where light availability and soil conditions are shaped by the surrounding scrub and seasonal shifts typical of savanna environments.

Habitat :

Savanna, dense secondary shrub and ruderal vegetation

Life history

The life history of Curculigo orchioides is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its habitat through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a geophyte, storing essential nutrients and moisture within underground structures that enable survival during unfavorable conditions. This survival strategy is further supported by its classification as a cryptophyte, where the plant's vital organs remain protected below the soil surface. Throughout its life cycle, the species maintains an evergreen habit, retaining its foliage consistently rather than undergoing seasonal shedding.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Curculigo orchioides is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. This terrestrial plant typically reaches a mean plant height of approximately 0.5 m. It functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte, maintaining a self-supporting structure rather than acting as a liana or vine.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Curculigo orchioides is characterized by a specialized metabolic framework adapted to its specific environmental niche. Regarding its carbon assimilation process, the plant utilizes a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which involves the direct fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle without the specialized anatomical adaptations found in C4 or CAM species. This pathway dictates its gas exchange efficiency and water-use strategies. Furthermore, in terms of its nutrient acquisition capabilities, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer; it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, relying instead on the uptake of nitrogenous compounds present in the soil through its root system.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Curculigo orchioides is characterized by a complex dispersal strategy that incorporates multiple mechanisms to ensure the propagation of its species. Primarily, the plant exhibits a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning its seeds or reproductive units are distributed via animals, which play a crucial role in transporting genetic material across different habitats. However, the reproductive ecology of this species is multifaceted, displaying traits of anemochory through wind-assisted movement and autochory via self-dispersal mechanisms. Additionally, the potential for hydrochorous dispersal suggests that water currents may also assist in the movement of its propagules, while its overall classification as unspecialized indicates a versatile approach to colonization that does not rely on a single, highly specific vector.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Curculigo orchioides has 3 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include rhizome, leaf, root.

Rhizome

1. Reports of biochemistry & molecular biology
2. Fitoterapia
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Leaf

1. International journal of environmental research and public health

Root

1. PloS one

Chemicals

Curculigo orchioides has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Curculigoside, Saponins, Flavonoids, Orcinol glucoside, Steroids.

Curculigoside

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Pharmacognosy research
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Saponins

1. PloS one
2. International journal of environmental research and public health
3. Zhong xi yi jie he xue bao = Journal of Chinese integrative medicine

Flavonoids

1. PloS one

Orcinol glucoside

1. PLoS biology

Steroids

1. PloS one

Tannins

1. PloS one

protocatechuic acid

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

vitamin C

1. Reports of biochemistry & molecular biology

Activities

Curculigo orchioides has 13 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective, Aphrodisiac, Antidepressant, Immunostimulant.

Antioxidant

1. Reports of biochemistry & molecular biology
2. PloS one
3. Zhong xi yi jie he xue bao = Journal of Chinese integrative medicine
4. Pharmacognosy research
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hepatoprotective

1. Zhong xi yi jie he xue bao = Journal of Chinese integrative medicine
2. Current drug research reviews
3. Pharmacognosy research
4. Integrative cancer therapies
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aphrodisiac

1. Zhong xi yi jie he xue bao = Journal of Chinese integrative medicine
2. Pharmacognosy research
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antidepressant

1. PLoS biology
2. Reports of biochemistry & molecular biology

Immunostimulant

1. Zhong xi yi jie he xue bao = Journal of Chinese integrative medicine
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Adaptogen

1. Zhong xi yi jie he xue bao = Journal of Chinese integrative medicine

Anticancer

1. Zhong xi yi jie he xue bao = Journal of Chinese integrative medicine

Antidiabetic

1. Zhong xi yi jie he xue bao = Journal of Chinese integrative medicine

Antifatigue

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Cytotoxic

1. Current drug research reviews

Medicinal Uses

Curculigo orchioides has 25 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antioxidant, antidepressant, aphrodisiac, inflammation, jaundice.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations