creeping-berry

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• creeping-berry
• Baboon Toes
• Banana Vine
• Creeping Berry
• Necklace Plant
• String of Bananas
• String of Fishhooks
• String-of-Bananas
• string-of-fishhooks

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Kleinia radicans
• Cacalia radicans
• Kleinia adenocalyx
• Senecio radicans
• Senecio adenocalyx
• Senecio gonocladus

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asterales, falling within the family Asteraceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Curio.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily found throughout the diverse landscapes of Southern Africa. Its native range extends across the various Cape Provinces, where it thrives in specific local climates. Additionally, it can be located within the mountainous regions of Lesotho. The species is also distributed through parts of Namibia, showing its adaptability to different terrains. Finally, its presence is noted in the Free State and the coastal areas of KwaZulu-Natal.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Curio radicans is strictly defined by its high-altitude habitat, occupying a specific niche within montane ecosystems. This species thrives within a narrow altitudinal belt, maintaining a specialized presence in environments characterized by significant verticality. Its distribution is constrained to an elevational range that begins at 2560 m AMSL and extends to a maximum of 2820 m AMSL. This restricted elevational window suggests that the plant is highly adapted to the unique climatic conditions, such as lower temperatures and specific atmospheric pressures, found within this precise subalpine or high-montane zone.

Elevational range max:

2820 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

2560 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Curio radicans is characterized by its classification as a perennial, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its life cycle in a single year. As a succulent species, its survival strategy relies on its ability to endure varying environmental conditions over an extended period, often utilizing its fleshy leaves and stems to store water and sustain its metabolic processes. This perennial nature enables the plant to establish a robust root system and undergo repeated cycles of vegetative growth and potential flowering, contributing to its long-term presence in its natural habitat.

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Curio radicans is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. It functions as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic relationship, and maintains a terrestrial existence, whether occupying aquatic, semiaquatic, or terrestrial habitats. Although it exhibits climbing tendencies, it is classified as a self-supporting climber, rather than an obligatory liana or vine. Furthermore, it is strictly a terrestrial species, showing no epiphytic characteristics such as being a holoepiphyte or hemiepiphyte.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Curio radicans has 16 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 4-Imidazolidinone, CATECHIN, Diisooctyl phthalate, Flavonoids, Hydroxybenzoic acid.

4-Imidazolidinone

1. ChemistryOpen

CATECHIN

1. Scientific reports

Diisooctyl phthalate

1. ChemistryOpen

Flavonoids

1. Scientific reports

Hydroxybenzoic acid

1. Scientific reports

Phenols

1. Scientific reports

Saponins

1. Scientific reports

Tannins

1. Scientific reports

Terpenoids

1. Scientific reports

caffeic acid

1. Scientific reports

Activities

Curio radicans has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Genoprotective.

Antioxidant

1. ChemistryOpen

Genoprotective

1. ChemistryOpen

Preparations

Curio radicans has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanolic extract, ethyl acetate extract.

Ethanolic extract

1. ChemistryOpen

Ethyl acetate extract

1. ChemistryOpen