poor-joe

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• poor-joe
• rough buttonweed

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Diodella teres
• Diodia teres subsp. angustata
• Diodia teres subsp. prostrata
• Spermacoce shandongensis
• Borreria shandongensis
• Endopogon pumilum
• Spermacoce diodina
• Diodia incana
• Diodia prostrata
• Diodia prostrata var. longiseta
• Diodia teres
• Diodia teres var. hirsutior
• Diodia teres f. leiocarpa
• Diodia teres var. setifera
• Diodia teres var. oblongifolia
• Diodia teres var. angustata
• Diodia teres var. hystricina
• Diodia teres f. latifolia
• Diodia teres f. latior

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Gentianaales, it is a member of the Rubiaceae family. It is further categorized under the genus Hexasepalum, specifically as the species Hexasepalum teres.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning several distinct regions. In Middle Europe, its presence is noted within the Netherlands. Moving toward the Atlantic, it can be found in the Macaronesian region of Cape Verde. The species also extends into West Tropical Africa, specifically inhabiting Gambia and Guinea-Bissau. Furthermore, its range continues through the West Tropical African nation of Senegal.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Hexasepalum teres is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse Brazilian ecosystems, spanning from sea level up to an elevation of 2000 m AMSL. This species demonstrates a broad environmental tolerance, occupying a variety of distinct habitats including the semi-arid Caatinga (strictu sensu), the biodiverse Cerrado (lato sensu), and the specialized rocky outcrops of Campo Rupestre. Furthermore, it is found within the humid environments of Floresta de Terra Firme, the coastal sandy ecosystems of Restinga, and even within Áreas Antrópicas (anthropogenic areas), highlighting its ability to persist in both natural and human-influenced landscapes across a wide altitudinal gradient.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Campo Rupestre, Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta de Terra Firme, Restinga

Life history

The life history of Hexasepalum teres is characterized by its classification as an annual plant, meaning it completes its entire developmental cycle—from germination to seed production—within a single growing season. In terms of its structural growth habit and survival strategy, the species functions as a therophyte, completing its life cycle rapidly and typically surviving unfavorable environmental periods in the form of dormant seeds. This life form is consistent across its developmental stages, as it lacks persistent above-ground or below-ground woody structures, relying instead on its ephemeral annual nature to persist within its ecological niche.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Hexasepalum teres is characterized by a growth form classified as a non-woody herb, specifically manifesting as a forb. It functions as an independent organism, showing no parasitic tendencies, and is primarily a terrestrial plant, though it can occupy habitats ranging from aquatic to semiaquatic environments. In terms of its structural habit, it is a self-supporting plant, functioning as both a self-supporting climber and a non-obligatory climber, rather than acting as a liana or a vine. Furthermore, it maintains a terrestrial lifestyle, lacking any epiphytic tendencies such as being a holoepiphyte, hemiepiphyte, or facultative epiphyte.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Hexasepalum teres is characterized by distinct morphological adaptations in its foliage, which plays a critical role in its metabolic processes and environmental interaction. The plant exhibits a specific range of leaf dimensions that facilitate efficient gas exchange and light absorption relative to its structural scale. Specifically, the leaf length varies significantly, with measurements ranging from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 3 cm. Complementing this longitudinal variation, the leaf width is notably narrow, reaching a maximum of 0.5 cm. This narrow, linear configuration suggests a physiological specialization likely aimed at minimizing transpirational water loss while maintaining sufficient surface area for photosynthetic activity within its specific ecological niche.

Leaf length max:

3 cm

Leaf length min:

1.5 cm

Leaf width max:

0.5 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Hexasepalum teres is characterized by a versatile dispersal strategy and specific seed morphology. The species exhibits an unspecialized dispersal syndrome, utilizing a combination of anemochory (wind dispersal), zoochory (animal dispersal), autochory (self-dispersal), and hydrochory (water dispersal) to colonize new habitats. The seeds produced by the plant are relatively lightweight, with a mean seed mass of 0.00641 g. Individual seed measurements vary slightly within a narrow range, spanning a minimum mass of 0.00602 g to a maximum mass of 0.0068 g.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Seed mass max:

0.0068 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00641 g

Seed mass min:

0.00602 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Hexasepalum teres has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Asperuloside, Asperulosidic acid, Astragalin, Geniposidic acid, Isoquercitrin.

Asperuloside

1. Archives of pharmacal research

Asperulosidic acid

1. Archives of pharmacal research

Astragalin

1. Archives of pharmacal research

Geniposidic acid

1. Archives of pharmacal research

Isoquercitrin

1. Archives of pharmacal research

Kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside

1. Archives of pharmacal research

RUTIN

1. Archives of pharmacal research

Scopolin

1. Archives of pharmacal research

quercetin

1. Archives of pharmacal research

quercitrin

1. Archives of pharmacal research

Preparations

Hexasepalum teres has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include methanolic extract of the whole plants.

Methanolic extract of the whole plants

1. Archives of pharmacal research