Green shrimp plant

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Green shrimp plant

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ecbolium viride var. chandrasekariana
• Ecbolium linneanum var. rotundifolium

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Lamiales. Finally, it is a member of the family Acanthaceae and falls under the genus Ecbolium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily found throughout the Northeast Tropical Africa region. Its natural distribution includes the territories of Djibouti and Eritrea. Furthermore, it can be located across the vast landscapes of Ethiopia and Somalia. The species also extends its reach into the areas of both Sudan and South Sudan. Consequently, its geographical range is concentrated within these specific African nations.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Euphorbia viride is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth strategy and ecological positioning, it is classified as a chamaephyte, a life form where the permanent buds are located near or just above the soil surface. This specific life form categorization is consistent across both its primary and secondary botanical descriptors, identifying it as a chamaephyte within the broader spectrum of plant life forms.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ecbolium viride is characterized by its growth form as a woody herb, exhibiting a robust structure that distinguishes it from non-woody herbaceous species. It functions as a self-supporting climber, possessing the mechanical strength to ascend without the strict necessity of external hosts, though it maintains an independent life cycle as a non-parasitic organism. As a terrestrial species, it grows directly in the soil rather than inhabiting trees or rocks as an epiphyte. Its physical development is defined by this combination of woody tissue and a climbing habit, allowing it to occupy specific niches within its habitat while remaining ecologically independent.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Ecbolium viride has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Journal of natural medicines

Activities

Ecbolium viride has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cytotoxic.

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of natural medicines

Conditions

Ecbolium viride has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include breast cancer, colon cancer, gastric cancer.

Breast cancer

1. Journal of natural medicines

Colon cancer

1. Journal of natural medicines

Gastric cancer

1. Journal of natural medicines

Preparations

Ecbolium viride has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include leaf.

Leaf

1. Journal of natural medicines