Asian ticktrefoil

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Asian ticktrefoil

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Desmodium heterocarpon
• Pleurolobus heterocarpon
• Meibomia heterocarpon
• Hedysarum heterocarpon

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. Finally, it is specifically identified by the genus Grona.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several distinct global regions. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is noted specifically within the borders of Ghana. Moving toward East Tropical Africa, the species can also be found in Tanzania. Its range extends into the Western Indian Ocean, where it inhabits the Seychelles. Finally, in Asia, the plant is distributed throughout South-Central China and the island of Hainan.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Grona heterocarpos is characterized by its ability to thrive across a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level up to an elevation of 2000 m AMSL. This species typically establishes itself within specific ecological niches, most notably in dense secondary shrublands and ruderal vegetation. Its presence in these disturbed or regenerating habitats suggests a capacity to colonize areas with varying degrees of human impact or natural successional progression, utilizing the structural complexity of secondary growth to stabilize and persist within its environmental range.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

dense secondary shrub and ruderal vegetation

Genetics

The genetics of Grona heterocarpos are characterized by specific chromosomal variations that play a role in its biological classification and evolutionary lineage. Within its genomic structure, the species exhibits distinct chromosome numbers, specifically documented at 20 and 22. This variation in chromosome count suggests a complex cytogenetic profile that may influence its reproductive biology and genetic diversity within different populations.

Chromosome number :

20, 22

Life history

The life history of Grona heterocarpous is characterized by its classification as a perennial organism, meaning it maintains its biological functions and presence over multiple growing seasons rather than completing a single life cycle. In terms of its structural life form, the plant is categorized as a hemicryptophyte, a classification that indicates its perennuating buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by the substrate or leaf litter during unfavorable environmental conditions. This specific growth habit allows the plant to persist through seasonal shifts, utilizing its underground structures to regenerate and thrive as part of its long-term survival strategy.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Grona heterocarpos is characterized by a growth form that ranges from a herb to a shrub, exhibiting a non-woody structure. As a terrestrial plant, it is neither aquatic nor semiaquatic, and it functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. The species is self-supporting in its growth habit, lacking the climbing mechanisms of a liana or vine. In terms of physical dimensions, the plant maintains a relatively modest stature, with a minimum height of 0.5 m and a maximum height reaching up to 1.8 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.8 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Grona heterocarpos is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in its native environment. The plant exhibits a non-succulent morphology, lacking specialized water-storage tissues typically found in succulent species. Its foliar characteristics are defined by a specific range of dimensions, with leaf lengths varying from a minimum of 1.3 cm to a maximum of 7 cm. Complementing this longitudinal variation, the leaf width spans from a minimum of 0.8 cm to a maximum of 4.5 cm, contributing to the overall surface area available for gas exchange and light absorption.

Leaf length max:

7 cm

Leaf length min:

1.3 cm

Leaf width max:

4.5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.8 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Grona heterocarpous is characterized by the production of specialized fruit structures categorized as pods. These fruits exhibit specific morphological dimensions, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 2.8 cm, and widths varying between 0.2 cm and 0.3 cm. The fruit is dehiscent, meaning it possesses a natural mechanism to split open at maturity to release its contents. Regarding its reproductive strategy and movement, the species follows an anthropochorous dispersal syndrome, indicating that its seeds or fruits are primarily dispersed through human activity.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Fruit length max:

2.8 cm

Fruit length min:

1 cm

Fruit type :

pod

Fruit width max:

0.3 cm

Fruit width min:

0.2 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Grona heterocarpos has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoid.

Flavonoid

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Activities

Grona heterocarpos has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective.

Antioxidant

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Hepatoprotective

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Preparations

Grona heterocarpos has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include JEAE, ethyl acetate fraction (JEAE).

Jeae

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Ethyl acetate fraction (jeae)

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology