dwarf-morning-glory

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• dwarf-morning-glory
• tropical-speedwell
• slender dwarf morning-glory

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Evolvulus alsinoides var. hirsutus
• Evolvulus alsinoides var. acapulcensis
• Evolvulus alsinoides var. adscendens
• Evolvulus linifolius
• Evolvulus angustifolius
• Evolvulus alsinoides var. villosissimus
• Evolvulus tenuis subsp. yucatanensis
• Evolvulus alsinoides var. procumbens
• Evolvulus acapulcensis
• Evolvulus adscendens
• Evolvulus albiflorus
• Evolvulus chinensis
• Evolvulus heterophyllus
• Evolvulus hirsutus
• Evolvulus diffusus
• Evolvulus debilis
• Evolvulus decumbens
• Evolvulus argenteus
• Evolvulus boninensis
• Evolvulus azureus
• Evolvulus pudicus
• Evolvulus pilosissimus
• Evolvulus procumbens
• Evolvulus natalensis
• Evolvulus microphyllus
• Evolvulus javanicus
• Evolvulus linifolius var. grandiflorus
• Evolvulus ramiflorus
• Evolvulus ramulosus
• Evolvulus yemensis
• Evolvulus sinicus
• Breweria alsinoides
• Convolvulus alsinoides
• Evolvulus alsinoides f. albiflorus
• Evolvulus alsinoides var. angustifolius
• Evolvulus alsinoides var. choisyanus
• Evolvulus alsinoides f. coeruleus
• Evolvulus alsinoides var. debilis
• Evolvulus alsinoides var. decumbens
• Evolvulus alsinoides var. villosicalyx
• Evolvulus alsinoides var. grisebachianus
• Evolvulus gracillimus
• Evolvulus alsinoides var. hirticaulis
• Evolvulus alsinoides var. incanus
• Evolvulus alsinoides f. lactiflorus
• Evolvulus alsinoides f. lactiflorus
• Evolvulus alsinoides var. linifolius
• Evolvulus fugacissimus
• Evolvulus alsinoides f. viridis
• Convolvulus linifolius
• Convolvulus valerianoides
• Evolvulus alsinoides var. erectus
• Evolvulus alsinoides var. glaber
• Evolvulus alsinoides f. rotundifolius
• Evolvulus alsinoides var. thymoides
• Evolvulus alsinoides var. philippinensis
• Evolvulus alsinoides var. wallichii
• Evolvulus alsinoides var. javanicus

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, specifically falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Solanales, it is classified under the family Convolvulaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement within the genus Evolvulus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern that spans across both Atlantic islands and the African mainland. Within the Macaronesian region, its presence is noted in Cape Verde. Moving to the African continent, it is found throughout various parts of West Tropical Africa. Specifically, its range includes the nations of Benin, Burkina, and Gambia. Furthermore, the geographical reach of this species extends into Ghana.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Evolvulus alsinoides is characterized by its presence in Campo Limpo habitats, where it thrives in open, grassy environments. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, ranging from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1800 m AMSL. Across its varied range, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 1172 m AMSL, demonstrating a significant capacity to adapt to diverse topographic gradients and varying montane conditions.

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1172 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Campo Limpo

Life history

The life history of Evolvulus alsinoides is characterized by its classification as a perennial species, displaying a variable lifecycle that can also manifest in annual or biennial patterns depending on environmental conditions and habitat stability. In terms of its structural growth and survival strategy, the plant is categorized as a chamaephyte, a life form where the majority of the photosynthetic organs are located close to or just above the soil surface. This chamayphyte habit allows the plant to persist through various seasonal shifts by maintaining its low-growing, spreading architecture, ensuring its continued presence within its ecological niche.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Evolvulus alsinoides is characterized by a low-growing growth form, specifically categorized as a non-woody herb or forb. It functions as a self-supporting plant rather than a climber or liana, and it maintains an independent lifestyle without acting as a parasite. The plant typically occupies terrestrial habitats, as it is not aquatic or epiphytic. In terms of stature, it is a diminutive species with a plant height that ranges from a minimum of 0 m to a maximum of 0.6 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 0.3 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.6 m

Plant height mean:

0.3 m

Plant height min:

0 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Evolvulus alsinoides is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency within its ecological niche. The vegetative morphology of the plant, particularly its foliar dimensions, reflects its physiological adaptations; the leaves exhibit significant variability in size, with a mean leaf length of approximately 0.93 cm and a minimum length of 0.3 cm, reaching a maximum potential length of 3 cm. This longitudinal variation is complemented by a distinct width profile, where leaf width ranges from a minimum of 0.2 cm to a maximum of 1 cm, maintaining a mean width of 0.5 cm. These morphological parameters play a crucial role in the plant's surface area-to-volume ratio, influencing gas exchange and transpiration rates during its metabolic activities.

Leaf length max:

3 cm

Leaf length mean:

0.933333333333333 cm

Leaf length min:

0.3 cm

Leaf width max:

1 cm

Leaf width mean:

0.5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.2 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Evolvulus alsinoides is characterized by the development of a capsule-type fruit that exhibits dehiscence to facilitate seed release. These capsules are relatively small, with a mean length of 0.375 cm, ranging from a minimum of 0.35 cm to a maximum of 0.4 cm. Within these fruits, the seeds are minute, possessing a mean mass of approximately 0.00078531 g, though individual seed weights vary from a minimum of 0.00025 g to a maximum of 0.0015016 g. The plant employs an unspecialized dispersal syndrome, suggesting that seed dissemination occurs through various non-specific environmental mechanisms rather than a highly specialized biological or physical vector.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Fruit length max:

0.4 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.375 cm

Fruit length min:

0.35 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Seed mass max:

0.0015016 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00078531 g

Seed mass min:

0.00025 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Evolvulus alsinoides 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 root.

Root

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Chemicals

Evolvulus alsinoides has 19 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include STIGMASTEROL, squalene, 2-Butoxyethanol, AFLATOXIN B1, Amines.

STIGMASTEROL

1. Journal of chromatographic science
2. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

squalene

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
2. Journal of food science and technology

2-Butoxyethanol

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

AFLATOXIN B1

1. Microbial ecology

Amines

1. Chinese journal of natural medicines

Dimethyl sulfone

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Esters

1. Journal of food science and technology

Hexadecanoic acid

1. Journal of food science and technology

Hexan-1-ol

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Malondialdehyde

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Activities

Evolvulus alsinoides has 7 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Neuroprotective, Nootropic, Anticancer, Antifungal.

Antioxidant

1. Talanta
2. Journal of food science and technology
3. Fitoterapia

Neuroprotective

1. Talanta
2. Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences

Nootropic

1. Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences
2. Physiology and molecular biology of plants : an international journal of functional plant biology

Anticancer

1. Journal of food science and technology

Antifungal

1. Botanical studies

Anxiolytic

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Chemopreventive

1. Journal of food science and technology

Conditions

Evolvulus alsinoides has 13 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Alzheimer disease, Cognitive dysfunction, amnesia, antioxidant, asthma.

Alzheimer disease

1. Talanta

Cognitive dysfunction

1. Current aging science

Amnesia

1. Bioinformation

Antioxidant

1. Journal of food science and technology

Asthma

1. Bioinformation

Dementia

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Epilepsy

1. Bioinformation

Memory

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Neurodegenerative diseases

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Neurological disorders

1. Bioinformation

Preparations

Evolvulus alsinoides has 10 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanolic extract, ethanol extract, methanolic extract, Ethanolic extract, Pet ether extract.

Ethanolic extract

1. Chinese journal of natural medicines
2. Journal of food science and technology
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Fitoterapia

Ethanol extract

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Methanolic extract

1. Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & research
2. Bioinformation

Ethanolic extract

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Pet ether extract

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Ethanolic extracts

1. Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences

Ethanolic extracts of whole plants

1. Current aging science

Ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Hairy roots culture

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Solvent-assisted flavor evaporation (safe)

1. Chemistry & biodiversity