Huperzia squarrosa
Huperzia squarrosa, commonly known as a species of firmoss, is a significant medicinal plant valued in traditional herbal medicine. Renowned for its neuroprotective properties, it serves as a potent source of huperzine A. This alkaloid plays a crucial role in enhancing cognitive function and managing various neurological disorders.
- Scientific name: Huperzia squarrosa
- Family: Lycopodiaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Lycopodiidae. It is further classified within the order Lycopodiales and the family Lycopodiaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Huperzia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Lycopodiidae | WCVP |
| Order | Lycopodiales | WCVP |
| Family | Lycopodiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Huperzia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Huperzia squarrosa, is referred to by various common names depending on the linguistic and regional context. In Chinese, it is identified as 杉葉石松 (zh-tw, zh, zh-hant), while it is also commonly known as 展葉馬尾杉 (zh-tw).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-tw | 杉葉石松 | Wikidata |
| zh | 杉葉石松 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 杉葉石松 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 展葉馬尾杉 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is primarily distributed across the diverse landscapes of the Western Indian Ocean. Its presence can be documented within the unique ecosystems of the Comoros islands. Furthermore, it is found inhabiting the natural environments of Mauritius and Réunion. The species also extends its range to include the vast territories of Madagascar. Finally, this medicinal plant is located within the tropical regions of the Seychelles.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Western Indian Ocean | Comoros | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Mauritius | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Madagascar | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Réunion | WCVP |
| Western Indian Ocean | Seychelles | WCVP |
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| China | Tibet | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Taiwan | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
Chemicals
Huperzia squarrosa has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include huperzine A, huperzine B, huperzinine.
- Total chemicals
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| huperzine A | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| huperzine B | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| huperzinine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |