Dicoma tomentosa

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sources: Wikidata

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across the West Tropical Africa region. It can be found growing within the borders of Benin and Burkina. Additionally, its range extends into the nation of Mali. The species is also documented to occur in Mauritania. Finally, its geographical presence includes the territory of Nigeria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Dicoma tomentosa is characterized by its presence across a diverse vertical gradient of montane and sub-montane environments. This species thrives within a broad altitudinal spectrum, establishing itself in habitats ranging from low-lying areas at an elevation of 305 m AMSL to higher reaches reaching up to a maximum of 1525 m AMSL. This significant elevational range suggests an adaptability to varying climatic conditions, including fluctuations in temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure associated with increasing altitude. Such a distribution pattern typically indicates the plant's ability to colonize various ecological niches within its range, potentially spanning from warmer, lowland shrublands to cooler, more temperate montane ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

1525 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

305 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Dicoma tomentoza is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire developmental process from germination to seed production within a single growing season. In terms of its structural growth strategy and classification of life form, it is categorized as a therophyte, a designation indicating that the plant survives the unfavorable season as a seed, rapidly emerging to occupy available space when environmental conditions become suitable.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Dicoma tomentoza is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, exhibiting a self-supporting habit rather than acting as a climber, vine, or liana. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic or epiphytic tendencies and functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite. The plant maintains a relatively modest stature, with an average height of approximately 0.5 m and a maximum potential height reaching up to 1 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Dicoma tomentoza is characterized by a standard C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic strategy among many dicotyledonous plants where carbon fixation occurs primarily through the enzyme RuBisCO during the Calvin cycle. In terms of nutrient cycling and symbiotic associations, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized root nodules required to host diazotrophic bacteria for atmospheric nitrogen conversion. Consequently, its nutritional requirements and growth patterns are heavily dependent on the availability of nitrogenous compounds directly present within the soil substrate.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Dicoma tomentoza is characterized by specific seed morphology and specialized dispersal mechanisms. The plant produces seeds with a varying mass, ranging from a minimum of 0.00192 g to a maximum of 0.00485 g, resulting in an average seed mass of approximately 0.003026667 g. In terms of its dispersal syndrome, the species is identified as anemochorous, meaning it relies on wind for the distribution of its seeds across the environment.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Seed mass max:

0.00485 g

Seed mass mean:

0.003026667 g

Seed mass min:

0.00192 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Dicoma tomentosa has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include betulinic acid.

betulinic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Dicoma tomentosa has 18 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anthelmintic, AntiHIV, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Anticarcinomic.

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiedemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Antileukemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antimalarial

1. Dr. Duke

Antimelanomic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Dicoma tomentosa has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include malaria.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations