Gima

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• slender carpetweed

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pharnaceum oppositifolium
• Mollugo oppositifolia

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Under the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized into the order Caryophyllales and the family Molluginaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Glinus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range that spans across multiple continents. In Southwestern Europe, its presence is specifically noted within the Baleares islands. Moving toward the African continent, it is widely distributed throughout West Tropical Africa. Specifically, it can be found in the nations of Benin, Burkina, and Ghana. Additionally, its habitat extends to the coastal regions of Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Glinus oppositifolius is characterized by its adaptability to diverse hydrological environments and a broad altitudinal distribution. This species typically thrives in dry river beds, along river banks, and in close proximity to open water, showing a particular preference for sandy soils. Additionally, it frequently colonizes disturbed areas, often acting as a weed of cultivation. Its vertical distribution spans a significant elevational range, occurring from low-lying areas as low as 3 m AMSL up to a maximum elevation of 1435 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1435 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

3 m AMSL

Habitat :

dry river beds and banks and by open water, especially andy soils, also weed of cultivation

Life history

The life history of Glinus oppositifolius is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire biological development—from germination to seed production—within a single growing season. Structurally, it functions as a therophyte, a life form defined by its strategy of surviving unfavorable environmental conditions as dormant seeds, with the vegetative body dying off completely at the end of the annual cycle. This therophytic nature is consistent across its classifications, as it lacks perennial woody structures or long-lived underground organs, relying instead on the rapid execution of its reproductive cycle to ensure the continuity of the species.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Glinus oppositifolius is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically functioning as a self-supporting plant rather than a liana or vine. It is a terrestrial species that grows independently, lacking any parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. The plant maintains a relatively low stature, with a height range spanning from 0 m to a maximum of 0.5 m, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 0.275 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.275 m

Plant height min:

0 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Glinus oppositifolius is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes and energy production. Its vegetative morphology is defined by specific leaf dimensions, with leaf lengths typically averaging 1.75 cm, ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 3 cm. The leaf width displays a similar variation, maintaining a mean width of 0.45 cm, with minimum values recorded at 0.3 cm and maximum values reaching 0.6 cm. Furthermore, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the physiological capacity to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms through symbiotic relationships.

Leaf length max:

3 cm

Leaf length mean:

1.75 cm

Leaf length min:

1 cm

Leaf width max:

0.6 cm

Leaf width mean:

0.45 cm

Leaf width min:

0.3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Glinus oppositifolius is characterized by the production of extremely minute seeds, which play a critical role in its dispersal and colonization strategies. Quantitative analysis of its reproductive output reveals a highly uniform seed profile, with a mean seed mass of 1e-05 g. This uniformity is consistent across the population, as both the maximum and minimum recorded seed mass values are also 1e-05 g. Such minimal mass suggests that the plant likely relies on wind or water for seed dispersal, allowing these lightweight units to spread effectively across its habitat to ensure the continuation of the species.

Seed mass mean:

1e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Glinus oppositifolius has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include GLINOSIDE A, Galacturonic acid, Spergulin A, arabinose, galactose.

GLINOSIDE A

1. Planta medica

Galacturonic acid

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Spergulin A

1. Infection and drug resistance

arabinose

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

galactose

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

rhamnose

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Glinus oppositifolius has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antifungal, Cytotoxic.

Antifungal

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of natural medicines

Conditions

Glinus oppositifolius has 9 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include breast cancer, colon cancer, fever, gastric cancer, inflammations.

Breast cancer

1. Journal of natural medicines

Colon cancer

1. Journal of natural medicines

Fever

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Gastric cancer

1. Journal of natural medicines

Inflammations

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Joint pains

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Malaria

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Visceral leishmaniasis

1. Infection and drug resistance

Wounds

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Glinus oppositifolius has 3 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include GOA1, methanolic extract, whole plant.

Goa1

1. Phytochemistry

Methanolic extract

1. Infection and drug resistance

Whole plant

1. Journal of natural medicines