angel whisper

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• golden dewdrop
• golden dewdrops
• pigeonberry
• Forget-Me-Not-Tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Duranta repens f. serrata
• Duranta baumgartenii
• Duranta baumgartii
• Duranta baumgartenii
• Duranta rostrata
• Ellisia acuta
• Duranta dentata
• Duranta ellisia
• Duranta latifolia
• Duranta inermis
• Duranta integrifolia
• Duranta macrodonta
• Duranta microphylla
• Duranta repens f. acuminata
• Duranta plumieri
• Duranta plumieri var. alba
• Duranta plumieri var. strigillosa
• Duranta racemosa
• Duranta repens
• Duranta repens var. mutisii
• Duranta repens var. grandiflora
• Duranta repens f. obtusifolia
• Duranta repens var. paucidentata
• Duranta repens var. serrata
• Duranta repens var. variegata
• Duranta serratifolia var. variegata
• Duranta spinosa
• Duranta turbinata
• Duranta plumieri var. glabra
• Duranta repens f. acuta
• Duranta brachypoda
• Duranta erecta var. grandiflora
• Duranta repens var. multidentata
• Duranta plumieri var. ellisia
• Duranta repens f. glabrifolia
• Duranta plumieri f. variegata
• Duranta repens var. alba
• Duranta repens var. ellisia
• Duranta repens f. variegata
• Duranta erecta var. alba
• Duranta repens f. alba
• Duranta repens f. microphylla
• Duranta repens var. microphylla
• Duranta repens f. variegata
• Duranta repens f. vestita
• Duranta angustifolia
• Duranta repens f. grandiflora
• Duranta repens f. integrifolia

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Duranta erecta, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Lamiales and the family Verbenaceae. Finally, it is classified under the genus Duranta.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution spanning several continents and diverse climatic zones. In Southeastern Europe, its presence can be specifically noted in Sicilia. Its range extends into Northern Africa, where it is found within the borders of Algeria. Moving toward the tropical regions, the species is located in Guinea within West Tropical Africa. Finally, it inhabits West-Central Tropical Africa, specifically documented in both Burundi and the Central African Republic.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Duranta erecta is characterized by its adaptability across diverse South American biomes, specifically thriving within the Carrasco, Cerrado (latu sensu), and Floresta Estacional Semidecidual habitats. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, occupying a wide range of topographical gradients. It can be found at sea level, with a minimum elevation of 0 m AMSL, and reaches its maximum recorded altitude at 3140 m AMSL. The plant maintains a mean elevational range of approximately 1700 m AMSL, demonstrating its ability to persist in both lowland tropical environments and higher-altitude mountainous regions.

Elevational range max:

3140 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Carrasco, Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Estacional Semidecidual

Life history

The life history of Duranta erecta is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural life form, the plant is classified as a phanerophyte, as its elevating shoots extend well above the ground level. Additionally, it can be categorized as a nanophanerophyte, reflecting its growth habit where the woody stems remain relatively low or compact in certain environments.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Duranta erecta is characterized by a woody growth form, primarily manifesting as a shrub. It is a terrestrial species that functions as an independent organism, showing no parasitic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant vertical variability, with heights ranging from a minimum of 1.8 m to a maximum of 7 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 4 m. While it possesses a self-supporting structure rather than acting as a climbing vine or liana, its growth habit remains robustly terrestrial, lacking any epiphytic or aquatic adaptations.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

7 m

Plant height mean:

4 m

Plant height min:

1.8 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Duranta erecta is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits a non-succulent morphology, lacking specialized water-storage tissues in its vegetative structures. Its foliar physiology is supported by leaves that vary in size, with a minimum length of 2 cm and a maximum length reaching up to 7.5 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width ranges from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 5 cm, providing a specific surface area optimized for light interception and gas exchange within its ecological niche.

Leaf length max:

7.5 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf width max:

5 cm

Leaf width min:

1.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Duranta erecta is characterized by the production of fruit classified as a drupe, which remains indehiscent upon maturity. The seeds produced by this species exhibit a notable range in mass, with a minimum value of 0.0568 g, a maximum of 0.5435 g, and a mean seed mass of approximately 0.301285 g. The dispersal of these seeds is primarily driven by zoochorous mechanisms, where animals play a key role in moving the reproductive units, although the species also exhibits anthropochorous dispersal, indicating that human activity contributes to its spread.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Fruit type :

drupe

Seed mass max:

0.5435 g

Seed mass mean:

0.301285 g

Seed mass min:

0.0568 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Duranta erecta has 2 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 leaf, stem.

Leaf

1. Phytochemistry

Stem

1. Phytochemistry

Chemicals

Duranta erecta has 24 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Acteoside, Lamiide, Pectolinaringenin, Saponins.

Flavonoids

1. Pharmacognosy reviews
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Acteoside

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Lamiide

1. Phytochemistry
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Pectolinaringenin

1. Pharmacognosy reviews
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Saponins

1. Pharmacognosy reviews
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Scutellarein

1. Pharmacognosy reviews
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Steroids

1. Pharmacognosy reviews
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Terpenoids

1. Pharmacognosy reviews
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

5,7-dihydroxy-3'-(2-hydroxy-3-methyl-3-butenyl)-3,6,4'-trimethoxyflavone

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

5-Hydroxy-3,6,7,4'-tetramethoxyflavone

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Activities

Duranta erecta has 21 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Insecticide, Anthelmintic, Antiasthmatic.

Antimicrobial

1. Pharmacognosy reviews
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Pharmacognosy reviews
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Insecticide

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmacognosy reviews

Anthelmintic

1. Heliyon

Antiasthmatic

1. Dr. Duke

Anticancer

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antidote

1. Dr. Duke

Antimalarial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antinephritic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antitussive

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Duranta erecta has 8 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include abscesses, malaria, IgA nephropathy, anti-malarial, antioxidant.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations