Dorstenia psilurus

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Dorstenia psilurus f. subintegrifolia
• Dorstenia psilurus var. compacta
• Dorstenia klaineana
• Dorstenia klainei
• Dorstenia psilurus var. subintegrifolia
• Dorstenia psiluroides
• Dorstenia psilurus var. brevicaudata
• Dorstenia psilurus var. scabra
• Dorstenia stolzii
• Dorstenia scabra
• Dorstenia tenuifolia
• Dorstenia lukafuensis
• Dorstenia massonii
• Dorstenia bicornis
• Dorstenia gilletii

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. Further taxonomic hierarchy places it in the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Rosales. Finally, it is categorized under the family Moraceae and the genus Dorstenia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated within the tropical regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is notably recorded in Nigeria. Moving into the West-Central Tropical Africa zone, the species is found across the Central African Republic. It also inhabits the territories of Cameroon and Congo within this same central region. Finally, the distribution extends further into Gabon, completing its range across these diverse landscapes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Dorsetia psilurus is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle within a single year. As a perennial, it maintains a stable presence in its habitat, often developing robust root systems or underground structures that facilitate survival during unfavorable environmental conditions. This long-term life cycle enables the plant to engage in repeated reproductive efforts over successive years, contributing to its long-term stability and ability to colonize specific ecological niches.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Dorstenia psiururus is characterized by a growth form classified as an herb, specifically manifesting as a non-woody, herbaceous structure. This species exhibits a versatile ecological habit, ranging from aquatic and semiaquatic environments to terrestrial habitats, and functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. Structurally, it is a self-supporting plant, lacking the climbing mechanisms of a vine or liana, and it maintains a vertical presence reaching a maximum plant height of approximately 3.657644477 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3.657644477 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Dorsetnia psilurus is characterized by a metabolic framework governed by a C3 photosynthetic pathway. In this process, the plant fixes atmospheric carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle, utilizing the enzyme Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) to incorporate CO2 into three-carbon organic compounds. This C3 pathway dictates the plant's resource management, influencing its gas exchange efficiency, stomatal conductance, and water-use efficiency in response to varying environmental conditions. The reliance on this specific pathway shapes its overall energy production and carbon assimilation rates, directly impacting its growth patterns and metabolic regulation.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Dorstenia psilurus has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. The Biochemical journal
2. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Dorstenia psilurus has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include DORSILURIN F, DORSILURIN K, dorsilurin C.

DORSILURIN F

1. Journal of natural products

DORSILURIN K

1. Journal of natural products

dorsilurin C

1. Journal of natural products

Activities

Dorstenia psilurus has 1 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antihypertensive.

Antihypertensive

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Conditions

Dorstenia psilurus has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cholesterol, high blood pressure, hypertension, triglycerides.

Cholesterol

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

High blood pressure

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Hypertension

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Triglycerides

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Preparations

Dorstenia psilurus has 5 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include methanol extract, Root extracts, methanol/methylene chloride extract, methanolic extract, roots.

Methanol extract

1. BMC research notes
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Root extracts

1. The Biochemical journal

Methanol/methylene chloride extract

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Methanolic extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Roots

1. Journal of natural products