Digera muricata
Digera muricata, commonly known as the wild melon or cucamelon, is a versatile medicinal plant prized in traditional healing. Rich in bioactive compounds, it possesses significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Often used to support digestive health and skin vitality, this resilient species offers profound therapeutic potential.
- Scientific name: Digera muricata
- Family: Amaranthaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Caryophyllales, it is classified under the family Amaranthaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is within the genus Digera.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Caryophyllales | WCVP |
| Family | Amaranthaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Digera | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Digera muricata, is recognized by different names depending on the linguistic context. In Traditional Chinese (zh-tw), it is commonly referred to as 瘤果莧, while in Simplified Chinese (zh), it is known as 长序苋.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-tw | 瘤果莧 | Wikidata |
| zh | 长序苋 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning multiple continents and climate zones. In Middle Europe, its presence can be documented within the borders of Germany. Moving toward the African continent, it is found across Northern Africa, specifically in Egypt. The species also extends into West-Central Tropical Africa, with occurrences noted in Burundi. Finally, its range reaches into Northeast Tropical Africa, where it is located in both Djibouti and Eritrea.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Egypt | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Burundi | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Djibouti | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Eritrea | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Ethiopia | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Socotra | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Somalia | WCVP |
| Northeast Tropical Africa | Sudan-South Sudan | WCVP |
| East Tropical Africa | Kenya | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Dichera muricata, utilizes various anatomical structures to support its growth and medicinal properties. The stems serve as the primary structural foundation, providing the necessary support and transport systems for nutrients throughout the organism. The leaves are equally vital, acting as the main site for photosynthesis to fuel the plant's development. Furthermore, the leaves are often the most significant part used in traditional remedies, as they contain the concentrated bioactive compounds required for healing.- Total parts
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| stems | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Digera muricata has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include copper, flavonoids, iron, saponin, tannins.
- Total chemicals
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| copper | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| iron | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| saponin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tannins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |