Damascisa

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Damascisa
• Lotus Sweetjuice
• hairy carpetweed

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Mollugo lotoides
• Mollugo hirta var. lotoides
• Mollugo glinus var. dictamnoides
• Mollugo glinus var. virens
• Mollugo hirta var. virens
• Doosera esculenta
• Tryphera prostrata
• Pharnaceum pentagynum
• Glinus dahomensis
• Glinus dictamnoides
• Glinus lotoides var. macrantha
• Glinus lotoides var. micrantha
• Glinus lotoides var. pedicellatus
• Glinus lotoides var. virens
• Glinus micranthus
• Glinus ononoides
• Mollugo glinus var. lotoides
• Glinus lotoides var. candidus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered under Caryophyllales and placed in the family Molluginaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Glinus as Gliunus lotoides.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse range of habitats across the European continent. Within Southwestern Europe, it can be found growing in the coastal and inland regions of Portugal and Spain. Its presence also extends to the island of Sardegna, further establishing its footprint in the western Mediterranean. Moving toward Southeastern Europe, the species is documented in the mountainous and lowland territories of Albania. Finally, its distribution continues through Bulgaria, marking a significant presence in the Balkan region.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Glinus lotoides is characterized by its ability to thrive in a wide altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to an elevation of 1250 m AMSL. It predominantly inhabits dry river beds and areas near open water within scrub and bushland environments. The species shows a particular preference for sandy soils, which facilitates its growth in these specific niches. Furthermore, it demonstrates high adaptability to disturbed environments, frequently occurring as a weed of cultivation.

Elevational range max:

1250 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

dry river beds and by open water in scrub and bushland, especially on sandy soils, also weed of cultivetion

Life history

The life history of Glinus lotoides is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning it completes its entire biological progression from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, its survival strategy relies on producing hardy seeds that remain dormant in the soil during unfavorable conditions, allowing the plant to emerge rapidly when environmental triggers are met. This specific life form ensures that the plant avoids the stresses of seasonal shifts by existing primarily as a seed during periods of dormancy, subsequently germinating to fulfill its reproductive goals before the onset of the next dormant cycle.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Glinus lotoides is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. It functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte, and maintains a strictly terrestrial existence. In terms of structural habit, the plant is self-supporting rather than behaving as a liana or vine. It maintains a relatively low profile, with a plant height that ranges from 0 m to a maximum of 0.5 m, averaging approximately 0.3 m in stature.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.3 m

Plant height min:

0 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Gliunus lotoides is characterized by a specialized metabolic and morphological profile. It utilizes a C4 photosynthetic pathway, an efficient mechanism for carbon fixation that enhances productivity in specific environmental conditions. Morphologically, the plant exhibits significant variability in its leaf dimensions; the leaf length ranges from a minimum of 0.6 cm to a maximum of 2.4 cm, with an average length of 1.5 cm. Similarly, the leaf width shows a range between 0.5 cm and 1.5 cm, maintaining a mean width of 1 cm. Regarding its nutrient acquisition processes, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nitrogen sources for its nutritional requirements.

Leaf length max:

2.4 cm

Leaf length mean:

1.5 cm

Leaf length min:

0.6 cm

Leaf width max:

1.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

1 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C4

Reproduction

The reproduction of Glinus lotoides is characterized by a specific flowering season that commences in July and concludes in October. The plant produces fruit in the form of a capsule, which is a dehiscence type, meaning it opens at maturity to release its seeds. The seeds produced are quite minute, with a mean mass of approximately 3.95e-05 g; however, individual seed weights vary, ranging from a minimum of 1e-05 g to a maximum of 8e-05 g.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Oct

Fruit type :

capsule

Seed mass max:

8e-05 g

Seed mass mean:

3.95e-05 g

Seed mass min:

1e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Glinus lotoides has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed.

Seed

1. Journal of natural products
2. Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology

Chemicals

Glinus lotoides has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 5,7,4'-Trihydroxyflavone-6,8-di-C-glucoside, Ash, CALCIUM, FAT, Fatty acids.

5,7,4'-Trihydroxyflavone-6,8-di-C-glucoside

1. Journal of natural products

Ash

1. Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology

CALCIUM

1. Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology

FAT

1. Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology

Fatty acids

1. Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology

Flavonoids

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

SELENIUM

1. Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology

Succulentoside B

1. Journal of natural products

VITAMIN E

1. Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology

folic acid

1. Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology

Conditions

Glinus lotoides has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, carcinoma.

Cancer

1. Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology

Carcinoma

1. Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology

Preparations

Glinus lotoides has 6 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include dichloromethane extracts, extract, methanol extracts, methanolic extract, n-hexane extracts.

Dichloromethane extracts

1. Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology

Extract

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Methanol extracts

1. Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology

Methanolic extract

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

N-hexane extracts

1. Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology

Water extracts

1. Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology