African candelabra

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Malpighiales and the family Euphorbiaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Euphorbia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Euphorbia ammak, exhibits a specific range within the Middle East. Its geographical presence is primarily concentrated within the Arabian Peninsula. Specifically, it can be found growing in the territory of Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the species is documented to occur within the borders of Yemen. These locations define the known natural distribution for this particular medicinal species.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Euphorbia ammak is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. Regarding its growth habit and structural adaptations, it exhibits a complex life form categorized both as a phanerophyte and a cryptophyte. This dual classification indicates a survival strategy where the plant possesses buds located both above the ground level and protected at or below the soil surface, ensuring its continued development and resilience within its natural habitat.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Euphorbia ammak is characterized by its growth habit as a self-supporting climber, which allows it to ascend through its own structural integrity. It functions as an independent organism, showing no parasitic tendencies toward host plants. In terms of its ecological positioning, the plant is terrestrial rather than epiphytic, establishing its root system directly in the ground. Furthermore, the plant exhibits a woody texture, possessing a lignified structure that contributes to its physical stability and growth pattern.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Euphorbia ammak has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, STIGMASTEROL, Saponins, Tannins.

Flavonoids

1. PloS one

STIGMASTEROL

1. Computational biology and chemistry

Saponins

1. PloS one

Tannins

1. PloS one

Conditions

Euphorbia ammak has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include breast cancer, lung cancer.

Breast cancer

1. Computational biology and chemistry

Lung cancer

1. Computational biology and chemistry

Preparations

Euphorbia ammak has 6 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include DCM plant extracts, Hexane plant extracts, ethyl acetate plant extracts, methanol extracts, methanol plant extracts.

Dcm plant extracts

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Hexane plant extracts

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Ethyl acetate plant extracts

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Methanol extracts

1. PloS one

Methanol plant extracts

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Water plant extracts

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS