Creeping tick trefoil

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Creeping tick trefoil
• Three-flowered beggarweed
• three-flower beggarweed
• three-flower ticktrefoil
• threeflower ticktrefoil

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Meibomia triflora
• Desmodium triflorum
• Desmodium granulatum
• Sagotia triflora
• Desmodium triflorum var. adpressum
• Aeschynomene triflora
• Desmodium triflorum var. villosum
• Pleurolobus triflorus
• Nicolsonia triflora
• Meibomia triflora f. virescens
• Meibomia triflora var. glabrescens
• Hippocrepis humilis
• Desmodium triflorum var. minimus
• Desmodium triflorum var. minus
• Meibomia triflora f. coerulescens
• Meibomia triflora f. flavescens
• Meibomia triflora f. purpurea
• Meibomia triflora f. violacea
• Meibomia triflora f. violacea
• Meibomia triflora var. pilosa
• Hedysarum stipulaceum
• Hedysarum triflorum
• Hedysarum biflorum
• Hedysarum granulatum
• Desmodium bullamense
• Desmodium triflorum var. pygmaeum
• Nicolsonia reptans

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Grona triflora, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Grona.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Grona triflora, exhibits a specific distribution pattern across the West Tropical Africa region. It can be found growing naturally within the borders of Benin. Its presence is also documented in the country of Gambia. Furthermore, the species is distributed throughout the coastal and inland areas of Ghana. Finally, the plant's range extends to Guinea-Bissau and Guinea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Grona triflora is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to a diverse array of Brazilian biomes and varying topographic conditions. This species exhibits a broad ecological amplitude, thriving in environments ranging from the semi-arid Caatinga (strictu sensu) and the savanna-like Cerrado (lato sensu) to more humid ecosystems such as Restinga, Gallery Forests, and Ombrophilous Forests (rainforests). Its presence is also noted in Anthropic Areas, indicating a capacity to persist in human-modified landscapes. Topographically, the plant spans a significant vertical gradient, occurring from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1700 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Restinga

Genetics

The genetics of Grona triflora are characterized by specific karyotypic variations, most notably reflected in its chromosome numbers. Scientific analysis of the species reveals a complex chromosomal makeup, with documented chromosome numbers of 18 and 22. This variation in ploidy or chromosomal counts suggests a genetic plasticity within the species that may influence its evolutionary adaptation and phenotypic expression.

Chromosome number :

18, 22

Life history

The life history of Grona triflora is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist across multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth strategies and ecological positioning, it exhibits a dual life form classification, manifesting as both a chamaephyte and a therophyte depending on environmental conditions and seasonal cycles. This combination of life forms enables the plant to navigate varying survival strategies, utilizing its perennial nature to maintain long-term presence while employing specific growth habits to manage seasonal transitions.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Grona triflora is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. This plant is primarily terrestrial in its habitat, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of its physical stature, it is a small, self-supporting plant that does not exhibit climbing behavior such as a vine or liana. Its height is relatively modest, with a minimum measurement of 0.02 m, a mean height of 0.25 m, and a maximum height reaching up to 0.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.25 m

Plant height min:

0.02 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Grona triflora is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits specific leaf morphology, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.3 cm to a maximum of 1.2 cm, and leaf widths spanning between 0.3 cm and 1.1 cm. In terms of water storage and tissue structure, the species does not exhibit succulence, indicating a lack of specialized fleshy tissues for water retention. Furthermore, the plant plays a significant role in nutrient cycling through its capacity for nitrogen fixation, allowing it to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms to support its growth and development.

Leaf length max:

1.2 cm

Leaf length min:

0.3 cm

Leaf width max:

1.1 cm

Leaf width min:

0.3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Grona triflora is characterized by the production of small fruits that vary in dimensions, with a fruit length ranging from a minimum of 0.6 cm to a maximum of 1.7 cm and a fruit width spanning from 0.2 cm to 0.3 cm. These fruits contain very lightweight seeds, possessing a mean seed mass of approximately 0.000974 g. The dispersal of the species is primarily driven by animal vectors, exhibiting a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, specifically through epizoochory, where the reproductive units are transported externally by animals.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

epizoochorous

Fruit length max:

1.7 cm

Fruit length min:

0.6 cm

Fruit width max:

0.3 cm

Fruit width min:

0.2 cm

Seed mass mean:

0.000974 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Grona triflora has 6 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antiepileptic, Antifungal, Antioxidant, Antiproliferative.

Antibacterial

1. Current molecular medicine

Antiepileptic

1. Current molecular medicine

Antifungal

1. Current molecular medicine

Antioxidant

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Antiproliferative

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Radioprotective

1. Current molecular medicine

Preparations

Grona triflora has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Alcoholic extracts of the rind.

Alcoholic extracts of the rind

1. Indian journal of physiology and pharmacology