Stranglewort

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Stranglewort

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Solenostemma acutum
• Vincetoxicum acutum

Regional and Traditional Names

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 Gentianaales, it is classified under the family Apocynaceae and the genus Cynanchum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across the Mediterranean region. In Southwestern Europe, it can be found inhabiting various landscapes in France, Portugal, and Spain. Its presence extends to the Balearic Islands within the same southwestern territory. Additionally, the species reaches into Southeastern Europe, specifically documented in Albania. Consequently, its range spans from the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula to the Balkan Peninsula.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cynanchum acuminatum is characterized by a highly adaptable distribution across diverse terrains and varying altitudes. It thrives in a wide range of habitats, frequently colonizing disturbed or moisture-rich environments such as crop fields, sand dunes, irrigation channels, rivers, and sandy soils. This adaptability allows it to occupy niches ranging from riparian zones to agricultural landscapes. In terms of altitudinal distribution, the species exhibits significant vertical range, occurring from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 2800 m AMSL, with a mean elevational presence around 1200 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2800 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

crop fields, dunes, irrigation channals, rivers, sand

Life history

The life history of Cynanchum acutum is characterized by its perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth patterns and survival strategies, it is classified as a hemicryptophyte, a life form where the perennating buds are located at the soil surface or just beneath it, protected by leaf litter or soil during unfavorable conditions. This hemicryptophytic nature, consistent across its biological classification, enables the plant to maintain long-term stability within its ecological niche.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cynanchum acuminatum is characterized by its growth habit as a non-woody herb, specifically functioning as an obligatory climber. This plant exhibits a scandent shoot orientation, allowing it to navigate its environment by climbing rather than growing erect or prostrate. While it can occupy various ecological niches ranging from aquatic and semiaquatic to terrestrial habitats, it primarily functions as a terrestrial organism and an independent species, rather than an epiphyte or a parasite. The shoots are capable of reaching a maximum length of 400 cm, facilitating its spread as a climbing vine or liana through its specialized growth form.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Shoot length max:

400 cm

Shoot orientation :

scandent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cynanchum acuminatum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation strategies. Its foliage exhibits a distinct morphological structure, featuring leaves that are arranged in an opposite pattern along the stem. The leaves are linear in form with entire margins, lacking both thorns and spines. In terms of dimensional growth, the leaves typically range from a minimum length of 2 cm to a maximum length of 7.5 cm, while their width fluctuates between a minimum of 1.2 cm and a maximum of 6.5 cm.

Leaf arrangement :

opposite

Leaf form :

linear

Leaf length max:

7.5 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

6.5 cm

Leaf width min:

1.2 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cynanchum acutum is characterized by its bisexual nature, facilitating sexual reproduction within its flowering structures. The plant enters its flowering period starting in June and continues through August, though the timing can be variable. During this phase, it produces pink flowers that typically measure between 0.49 cm and 0.72 cm in length. Following successful pollination, the plant develops brown fruits that vary in size, with a minimum length of 7.5 cm and a maximum length of 18 cm, while the width of these fruits ranges from 0.7 cm to 0.9 cm. The resulting seeds are quite small, possessing a mean mass of approximately 0.00446 g, with individual seed masses ranging from a minimum of 0.00117 g to a maximum of 0.010409 g.

Flower colour :

pink

Flower length max:

0.72 cm

Flower length min:

0.49 cm

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit colour :

brown

Fruit length max:

18 cm

Fruit length min:

7.5 cm

Fruit width max:

0.9 cm

Fruit width min:

0.7 cm

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.010409 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00445966666666667 g

Seed mass min:

0.00117 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Cynanchum acutum has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Tannins.

Flavonoids

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Tannins

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR