wild hops

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• wild hops

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Zornia strobilifera
• Hedysarum strobiliferum
• Maughania strobilifera f. rubriflora
• Maughania strobilifera
• Hedysarum celtifolium
• Flemingia affinis

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 Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae. Its specific taxonomic placement is within the genus Flemingia, where it is identified as Flemingia strobilifera.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several key regions of the African continent and its surrounding islands. In East Tropical Africa, its presence can be documented within the borders of Kenya. Moving toward the southern region, it is also found in South Tropical Africa, specifically in Zimbabwe. The species extends its reach into the Western Indian Ocean, where it inhabits the island of Mauritius. Furthermore, its range includes the islands of Réunion and the Seychelles within the same oceanic zone.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Flemingia strobilifera is characterized by its adaptation to a wide altitudinal gradient, spanning from sea level to montane environments. It typically thrives in low-lying areas, with a mean elevational range centered around 100 m AMSL, though it is capable of colonizing habitats as high as a maximum of 1460 m AMSL. This broad elevational distribution suggests a versatile ecological plasticity, allowing the species to inhabit diverse topographical niches ranging from coastal or lowland plains to mid-elevation slopes.

Elevational range max:

1460 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

100 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Flemingia strobilifera is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a long-lived plant, it establishes a stable presence in its natural habitat, undergoing various stages of development from seedling emergence to reproductive maturity. Its perennial nature enables the plant to invest resources into robust root systems and structural growth, which supports its ability to survive seasonal fluctuations and regrow periodically. This extended lifecycle facilitates continuous ecological contributions and provides a consistent source of biomass within its environment.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Flemingia strobilifera is characterized by its growth as a woody shrub that functions as a self-supporting plant. It maintains an erect shoot orientation and does not exhibit climbing, vine, or liana tendencies. As a terrestrial species, it is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte, and it exists as an independent organism rather than a parasite. The plant typically reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 1.2 m to a maximum of 3 m, with an average plant height of approximately 2 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

2 m

Plant height min:

1.2 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiological profile of Flemingia strobilifera is characterized by specific morphological dimensions of its foliage and distinct metabolic capabilities. The plant's leaves exhibit a measurable range of sizes, with lengths varying from a minimum of 8.5 cm to a maximum of 13.5 cm. Correspondingly, the width of these leaves fluctuates between a minimum of 4 cm and a maximum of 5 cm. Regarding its metabolic nitrogen cycling, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, indicating that it lacks the specific symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable biological form.

Leaf length max:

13.5 cm

Leaf length min:

8.5 cm

Leaf width max:

5 cm

Leaf width min:

4 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Flemingia strobilifera is characterized by its distinct flowering and fruiting structures. The plant produces inflorescences that vary in length, ranging from a minimum of 0.075 m up to a maximum of 0.15 m. These inflorescences bear flowers that are notably pink in color. Following pollination, the plant develops fruits that are typically between 0.9 cm and 1 cm in length, with a width ranging from 0.45 cm to 0.5 cm. Each individual fruit contains a relatively small number of seeds, typically ranging from 1 to 10 seeds per fruit. The seeds themselves are small, with a length measurement falling between 3 mm and 3.5 mm.

Flower colour :

pink

Fruit length max:

1 cm

Fruit length min:

0.9 cm

Fruit width max:

0.5 cm

Fruit width min:

0.45 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.15 m

Inflorescence length min:

75 m

Seed length max:

3.5 mm

Seed length min:

3 mm

Seeds_per_fruit :

1-10

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Flemingia strobilifera 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. Pharmacognosy research

Chemicals

Flemingia strobilifera has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include genistein, hydroxygenistein.

genistein

1. Dr. Duke

hydroxygenistein

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Flemingia strobilifera has 73 reported activities identified across 1 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

Anticonvulsant

1. Pharmacognosy research

Conditions

Flemingia strobilifera has 7 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include convulsions, epilepsy, hysteria, insomnia, pain.

Convulsions

1. Pharmacognosy research

Epilepsy

1. Pharmacognosy research

Hysteria

1. Pharmacognosy research

Insomnia

1. Pharmacognosy research

Pain

1. Pharmacognosy research

Seizure

1. Pharmacognosy research

Tonic seizures

1. Pharmacognosy research

Preparations

Flemingia strobilifera has 8 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include 95% ethanol extract, aqueous fraction, chloroform fraction, crude ethanol extract, crude ethanolic extract.

95% ethanol extract

1. Pharmacognosy research

Aqueous fraction

1. Pharmacognosy research

Chloroform fraction

1. Pharmacognosy research

Crude ethanol extract

1. Pharmacognosy research

Crude ethanolic extract

1. Pharmacognosy research

Ethyl acetate fraction

1. Pharmacognosy research

Ethyl acetate fraction of roots

1. Pharmacognosy research

Petroleum ether fraction

1. Pharmacognosy research