Eriosema glomeratum

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant is geographically distributed across several nations within the West Tropical Africa region. Specifically, it can be found growing in the country of Benin. Its range also extends to include the territory of Burkina. Furthermore, the species is documented in both Gambia and Ghana. Finally, the distribution of this medicinal plant encompasses Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Eriosema glomeratum is characterized by its preference for specific open landscapes, primarily thriving within grassland ecosystems and coastal plantations. These habitats provide the necessary environmental conditions, such as sufficient sunlight exposure and particular soil compositions, required for its growth and development. By occupying these niche environments, the species participates in the complex biological interactions of both terrestrial grasslands and the unique coastal zones, where it must adapt to the specific moisture levels and wind patterns inherent to these regions.

Habitat :

grassland, coastal plantations

Life history

The life history of Eriosema glomeratum is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, ensuring its persistence across multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth habit and survival strategy, the plant is classified as a chamaephyte, meaning its permanent buds are located close to the soil surface, allowing it to withstand various environmental pressures. This life form is further supported by its categorization as a chamaephyte within its broader botanical profile, defining its specific niche and physiological approach to seasonal cycles and resource management.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Eriosema glomeratum is characterized by a growth form that transitions between a herb and a shrub, reaching an average plant height of 1 meter. It is a non-woody, terrestrial species that functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. While it possesses a self-supporting structural habit, it does not exhibit obligatory climbing behavior, maintaining its stature within terrestrial environments.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Eriosema glomeratum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy wherein carbon fixation occurs primarily through the enzyme Rubisco during the light-dependent reactions. This pathway involves the direct fixation of atmospheric CO2 into a three-carbon molecule, oxaloacetate, within the mesophyll cells. As a C3 plant, its physiological efficiency is highly dependent on environmental conditions, particularly temperature and water availability, as the process is susceptible to photorespiration when stomata close to conserve moisture. The metabolic flux within its tissues is optimized for standard atmospheric carbon assimilation, dictating its resource allocation patterns and growth dynamics in its specific ecological niche.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Eriosema glomeratum is characterized by a highly flexible fruiting period, as the plant demonstrates the ability to bear fruit throughout the entire year, with a variable schedule that can span from January through December. This wide temporal range in fruiting suggests an adaptable reproductive strategy that may respond to fluctuating environmental conditions. Regarding its seed characteristics, the plant produces relatively small seeds with a highly consistent mass; the mean, maximum, and minimum seed mass are all recorded at 0.01346 g, indicating a very uniform seed size distribution within the species.

Fruiting time :

Jan

Seed mass mean:

0.01346 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Eriosema glomeratum has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include genistein.

genistein

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Eriosema glomeratum has 72 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Abortifacient, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor, Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, Antiaggregant, Antiangiogenic.

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Antiaggregant

1. Dr. Duke

Antiangiogenic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiatherosclerotic

1. Dr. Duke

Anticancer (Breast)

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic (Breast)

1. Dr. Duke

Anticlimacteric

1. Dr. Duke

Antiendoccytotic

1. Dr. Duke