Hydrocotyle bonariensis

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning multiple continents. In Southwestern Europe, its presence is documented across France, Portugal, and Spain. Moving eastward, the species can also be found within Southeastern Europe in Italy. Beyond the European continent, its range extends into West Tropical Africa. Specifically, its occurrence is noted in the nation of Benin.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Hydrocotyle bonarienensis is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution, ranging from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 2500 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range centered around 1000 m AMSL. This species exhibits significant ecological plasticity, as it is found inhabiting both anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica) and specialized coastal ecosystems such as restingas (Restinga). This ability to persist in both disturbed human-influenced landscapes and natural coastal scrub environments suggests a versatile adaptability to varying soil types and moisture levels within its wide vertical range.

Elevational range max:

2500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Restinga

Life history

The life history of Hydrocotyle bonarienensis is characterized by its classification as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its ecological structure and growth habit, the plant functions as a hydrophyte, adapting its physiological processes to thrive in aquatic or semi-aquatic environments. Furthermore, its survival strategy is defined by its status as a cryptophyte, indicating that its perennating buds are protected below the surface of the substrate or water level, ensuring its continued development and resilience within its specific niche.

Life form :

hydrophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Hydrocotyle bonaerensis is characterized by a low-growing growth form, functioning primarily as a non-woody herb or forb. This species exhibits a versatile habitat preference, ranging from aquatic and semiaquatic environments to terrestrial settings. As a small-statured plant, it maintains a height between a minimum of 0.1 m and a maximum of 0.3 m. In terms of its structural habit, it is a self-supporting plant rather than an obligatory climber or liana, and it grows as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies. Furthermore, it is strictly terrestrial in its epiphytic classification, lacking any hemi-epiphytic or facultative epiphytic traits.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.3 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Hydrocotyle bonarienensis is characterized by its specific photosynthetic and morphological adaptations. The plant utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic process in many herbaceous species that involves the direct fixation of carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle. Morphologically, the plant exhibits significant variability in its foliage, with leaf dimensions ranging from a minimum length of 3 cm to a maximum length of 12 cm. Similarly, the leaf width shows a broad physiological range, spanning from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum width of 12 cm, reflecting its capacity for varying surface area expansion to optimize light interception and gas exchange.

Leaf length max:

12 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf width max:

12 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Hydrocotyle bonaerensis is characterized by a specific flowering phenology and distinct seed morphology. The plant's flowering period typically commences in October and concludes in February, although the timing can be variable depending on environmental conditions. Following successful pollination, the plant produces seeds that exhibit remarkable uniformity in mass; the seed mass remains consistent across its range, with a mean, maximum, and minimum value all recorded at 0.0013 g.

Flowering time :

Oct

Flowering time :

Feb

Seed mass mean:

0.0013 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Hydrocotyle bonariensis 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. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Conditions

Hydrocotyle bonariensis has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Chlamydia pneumoniae, Chlamydia trachomatis, hypertension.

Chlamydia pneumoniae

1. Heliyon

Chlamydia trachomatis

1. Heliyon

Hypertension

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Preparations

Hydrocotyle bonariensis has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include hydroethanolic extract.

Hydroethanolic extract

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM