Spanish Shawl

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Spanish Shawl
• Trailing Rock-Rose

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Dissotis rotundifolia
• Asterostoma rotundifolia
• Kadalia rotundifolia
• Dissotis plumosa
• Heterotis plumosa
• Osbeckia rotundifolia

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Myrtaleales and the family Melastomataceae. Finally, it is classified under the genus Heterotis, with the specific species being Heterotis rotundifolia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Heterotis rotundifolia, exhibits a specific geographical distribution across the West Tropical Africa region. It can be found growing within the borders of Benin. Furthermore, its presence extends to the coastal and inland areas of Guinea-Bissau. The species is also documented to inhabit parts of Guinea and Sierra Leone. Finally, its range includes the territory of Togo, completing its regional footprint.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Heterotis rotundifolia is characterized by its presence in both anthropic areas and terra firme forests, indicating a degree of adaptability to human-disturbed landscapes as well as stable, non-flooded forest ecosystems. This species typically thrives in terrestrial environments where it can integrate into the understory or disturbed patches of the forest floor. Regarding its altitudinal distribution, the species is recorded at an elevation of 0 m AMSL, suggesting a preference for lowland environments and coastal or basin-level regions where these specific habitat types are prevalent.

Elevational range mean:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Floresta de Terra Firme

Genetics

The genetics of Heterotis rotundifolia are characterized by a specific karyotype that defines its cellular structure and reproductive capacity. A fundamental cytogenetic feature of this species is its chromosome number, which is documented as 30. This diploid number serves as a key genetic marker for the species, influencing its evolutionary lineage and providing a baseline for studying its genome architecture and inheritance patterns. Such chromosomal stability is essential for maintaining the phenotypic expression of its medicinal properties and ensuring successful meiotic processes during its life cycle.

Chromosome number :

30

Life history

The life history of Heterotis rotundifolia is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth and survival strategy, it is classified as a chamaephyte, a life form where the permanent parts of the plant remain close to the soil surface, often protected by leaf litter or minimal substrate coverage. This specific life form, consistent across its morphological classifications as a chamaephyte, enables the species to endure varying environmental conditions by maintaining its regenerative capacity near the ground level.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Heterotis rotundifolia is characterized by a small, non-woody growth form, specifically classified as a herb and a forb. It is a terrestrial plant that grows independently without parasitic or epiphytic tendencies, functioning as a self-supporting organism rather than a climber, vine, or liana. The plant maintains a low profile, with a maximum height reaching approximately 0.2 m and an average plant height of around 0.3 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.2 m

Plant height mean:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Heterotis rotundifolia is characterized by specific morphological dimensions and metabolic constraints regarding nutrient acquisition. The leaf architecture demonstrates significant variability in size, with individual leaves typically measuring between a minimum length of 1.5 cm and a maximum length of 7 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width fluctuates within a range of 0.8 cm to 4 cm, reflecting a structural adaptation to its environmental niche. In terms of nutrient cycling and symbiotic capabilities, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized physiological mechanisms required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, necessitating reliance on soil-available nitrogen sources for its metabolic processes.

Leaf length max:

7 cm

Leaf length min:

1.5 cm

Leaf width max:

4 cm

Leaf width min:

0.8 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Heterotis rotundifolia is characterized by the production of small fruits and exceptionally lightweight seeds. The fruits generated by the plant reach a maximum length of 1 cm and a maximum width of 0.9 cm. Within these fruits, the seeds are minute, reaching a maximum length of 1 mm. The seed mass is remarkably consistent and minimal, with a mean, maximum, and minimum value all recorded at 0.00032 g, indicating a highly uniform seed size and weight profile during the reproductive cycle.

Fruit length max:

1 cm

Fruit width max:

0.9 cm

Seed length max:

1 mm

Seed mass mean:

0.00032 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Heterotis rotundifolia 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 leaf.

Leaf

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Chemicals

Heterotis rotundifolia has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Isoorientin, Isovitexin, Orientin, Vitexin, ascorbic acid.

Isoorientin

1. Journal of natural science, biology, and medicine

Isovitexin

1. Journal of natural science, biology, and medicine

Orientin

1. Journal of natural science, biology, and medicine

Vitexin

1. Journal of natural science, biology, and medicine

ascorbic acid

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Preparations

Heterotis rotundifolia has 4 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include D. rotundifolia extract, dried leaves, ethanolic plant extracts, fresh leaves.

D. rotundifolia extract

1. Journal of natural science, biology, and medicine

Dried leaves

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Ethanolic plant extracts

1. Journal of parasitology research

Fresh leaves

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences