Common Spurge

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Asthma-plant
• Chickenweed
• asthmaplant
• garden spurge
• pill-bearing spurge
• Ara tanan
• Asthma Weed
• Pillpod Sandmat
• Pillpod Spurge
• Queensland Asthma-Weed
• Red Euphorbia
• Saoo
• hairy spurge

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Desmonema hirta
• Euphorbia pilulifera f. humifusa
• Euphorbia pilulifera f. rubromaculata
• Euphorbia pilulifera f. viridis
• Ditrita hirta
• Euphorbia chrysochaeta
• Chamaesyce hirta
• Euphorbia capitata
• Chamaesyce hirta var. glaberrima
• Euphorbia bancana
• Chamaesyce hirta f. glaberrima
• Euphorbia pilulifera var. discolor
• Chamaesyce hirta f. litoralis
• Euphorbia nodiflora
• Chamaesyce gemella
• Euphorbia obliterata
• Chamaesyce pekinensis var. glaberrima
• Euphorbia karwinskyi
• Chamaesyce pilulifera var. glaberrima
• Chamaesyce karwinskyi
• Euphorbia hirta var. destituta
• Chamaesyce rosei
• Euphorbia hirta var. glaberrima
• Euphorbia gemella
• Euphorbia globulifera
• Chamaesyce hirta var. laeticincta
• Euphorbia pilulifera var. arechavaletae
• Euphorbia pilulifera var. glabrescens
• Euphorbia pilulifera var. guaranitica
• Euphorbia pilulifera var. hirta
• Euphorbia pilulifera var. obliterata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

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

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning several distinct regions. In Northern Africa, its presence is documented across the countries of Egypt, Libya, and Morocco. The species also extends into the Macaronesia region, specifically found in Cape Verde. Furthermore, its range reaches into West Tropical Africa, where it is located in Benin. Together, these locations highlight the wide environmental adaptability of the species.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Euphorbia hirta is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse environments, particularly within anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica). It exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, demonstrating the ability to colonize a wide range of landscapes from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 2800 m AMSL. This vast elevational range, spanning from 0 to 2800 m AMSL, allows the species to thrive in various climatic zones and successional stages of disturbed habitats.

Elevational range max:

2800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Genetics

The genetics of Euphorbia hirta are characterized by a complex and varied karyotype, reflecting a high degree of chromosomal plasticity within the species. Genomic studies have revealed significant variation in its cytogenetic makeup, with documented chromosome numbers including 12, 16, 18, and 20. This numerical diversity suggests that the plant may undergo processes such as polyploidy or aneuploidy, which contribute to its evolutionary adaptability and genetic diversity across different geographical populations. Such chromosomal variations are often linked to the plant's ability to thrive in diverse ecological niches and may play a role in the regulation of its diverse secondary metabolites.

Chromosome number :

12, 16, 18, 20

Life history

The life history of Euphorbia hirta is characterized by an annual lifecycle, allowing it to complete its reproductive processes within a single growing season. Functioning as a therophyte, the plant survives the unfavorable seasons primarily in the form of seeds, which remain dormant until conditions become suitable for rapid germination and growth. This life form ensures that the species can quickly colonize disturbed habitats and exploit transient resources before the onset of environmental stress.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Euphorbia hirta is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. This plant is a terrestrial species, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. Structurally, it is a self-supporting plant, lacking the characteristics of a climber, liana, or vine. In terms of stature, it exhibits a relatively low profile with a plant height ranging from a minimum of 0 m to a maximum of 0.8 m, maintaining a mean height of approximately 0.33 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.8 m

Plant height mean:

0.333333333333333 m

Plant height min:

0 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Euphorbia hirta is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes. The plant exhibits non-succulent morphology, lacking specialized water-storage tissues in its structures. Its foliar dimensions show significant variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.1 cm to a mean of 3 cm, reaching a maximum of 5 cm. The leaf width is similarly variable, spanning from a minimum of 0.3 cm to a mean of 0.9 cm, with a maximum width of 4 cm. Furthermore, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil nutrient availability for its metabolic requirements.

Leaf length max:

5 cm

Leaf length mean:

3 cm

Leaf length min:

0.1 cm

Leaf width max:

4 cm

Leaf width mean:

0.9 cm

Leaf width min:

0.3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Euphorbia hirta is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily driven by insects. The flowering period is quite extensive and variable, typically beginning around April and continuing through October. Once pollination is successful, the plant develops dry, dehiscent fruit in the form of a capsule. These capsules are quite small, with a mean length of 0.125 cm (ranging from a minimum of 0.08 cm to a maximum of 0.15 cm) and a mean width of 0.125 cm (ranging from 0.1 cm to 0.15 cm). The resulting seeds are minute, possessing a mean mass of $8 \times 10^{-5}$ g and a mean length of 0.9 mm, with lengths varying between 0.5 mm and 0.9 mm. The seed volume is consistent at a mean of 0.065 mm³, which serves as both the minimum and maximum recorded value. Finally, the dispersal of the species is categorized as anthropochorous, indicating that human activity plays a role in its spread.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Oct

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

0.15 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.125 cm

Fruit length min:

0.08 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

0.15 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.125 cm

Fruit width min:

0.1 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length mean:

0.9 mm

Seed length min:

0.5 mm

Seed mass mean:

8e-05 g

Seed volume max:

0.065 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Euphorbia hirta has 3 reported plant parts identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem, root.

Leaf

1. F1000Research
2. Malaria journal
3. BioMed research international
4. Chemosphere
5. Fitoterapia

Stem

1. BioMed research international
2. Chemosphere

Root

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Chemicals

Euphorbia hirta has 78 reported phytochemicals identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Tannins, Flavonoids, Saponins, quercetin, Glycosides.

Tannins

1. F1000Research
2. BioMed research international
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
5. PloS one

Flavonoids

1. F1000Research
2. BioMed research international
3. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
4. PloS one
5. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Saponins

1. BioMed research international
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
4. PloS one
5. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

quercetin

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
4. Chinese journal of natural medicines

Glycosides

1. BioMed research international
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

ellagic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of applied toxicology : JAT
3. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of applied toxicology : JAT

Cardiac Glycosides

1. F1000Research
2. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Flavonoid

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Archives of microbiology

Gallic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Chinese journal of natural medicines

Activities

Euphorbia hirta has 427 reported activities identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antiviral, Anticancer, Antispasmodic, Antiallergic.

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
4. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
5. Bioprocess and biosystems engineering

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology
3. Frontiers in molecular biosciences
4. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology
3. Bioprocess and biosystems engineering

Antispasmodic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
3. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Antiallergic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmaceutical biology

Anticonvulsant

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Antifertility

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Antipyretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmaceutical biology

Antiseptic

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Antiulcer

1. Dr. Duke
2. BioMed research international

Conditions

Euphorbia hirta has 40 reported investigations on conditions identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include asthma, Helicobacter pylori, colic, cough, diarrhea.

Asthma

1. Environmental toxicology and pharmacology
2. Chemosphere
3. Mitochondrial DNA. Part B, Resources
4. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
5. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Helicobacter pylori

1. FEMS immunology and medical microbiology
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Colic

1. Environmental toxicology and pharmacology
2. Chemosphere

Cough

1. Environmental toxicology and pharmacology
2. Chemosphere

Diarrhea

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
2. Plant diversity

Dysentery

1. Environmental toxicology and pharmacology
2. Chemosphere

Malaria

1. Malaria journal
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Snakebite

1. Biochimica et biophysica acta
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Wounds

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Pharmaceutical biology

Covid-19

1. Frontiers in molecular biosciences

Preparations

Euphorbia hirta has 27 reported preparations identified across 9 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Aqueous and 70% ethanolic extracts of the leaves, Dried powdered leaves and stem, E. hirta extract, EAEs from leaves, EtOH extract.

Aqueous and 70% ethanolic extracts of the leaves

1. F1000Research

Dried powdered leaves and stem

1. BioMed research international

E. hirta extract

1. Biochimica et biophysica acta

Eaes from leaves

1. Malaria journal

Etoh extract

1. Journal of natural products

Euphorbia hirta extract

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Isoamyl alcohol fractions

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Methanolic extracts

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Alcoholic plant extract

1. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology

Aqueous and partially purified latex extracts

1. Environmental toxicology and pharmacology