Indigofera spicata

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated within the West Tropical Africa region. It can be found growing in the diverse landscapes of Benin and Burkina. Additionally, the species is documented across the territories of Ghana and Guinea-Bissau. Its presence also extends into the nation of Guinea, completing its regional range. These locations highlight the plant's preference for the tropical environments found in these specific West African countries.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Indigofera spicata is characterized by its broad adaptability across diverse topographical gradients, spanning an elevational range from sea level at 1 m AMSL up to a maximum altitude of 1400 m AMSL. This species demonstrates a notable affinity for anthropogenic environments, frequently colonizing "Área Antrópica," which indicates its ability to thrive in habitats modified by human activity, such as disturbed soils, agricultural fringes, or roadside areas. Its distribution across such a wide vertical gradient suggests a versatile physiological tolerance to varying temperature regimes and atmospheric pressures found from lowlands to montane zones.

Elevational range max:

1400 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Indigofera spicata is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth strategy and life form, the species is categorized as a chamaephyte, indicating that its perennable buds are located close to the soil surface, which helps it adapt to its specific environmental niche.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Indigofera spicata is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, exhibiting a primarily terrestrial habit across various environments, ranging from aquatic to semiaquatic settings. This plant is independent in its nutritional requirements, functioning as a non-parasitic organism. Structurally, it is a self-supporting species rather than an obligatory or facultative climber, liana, or vine. It maintains a relatively low stature, with a plant height that ranges from a minimum of 0.01 m to a maximum of 1 m. As a terrestrial entity, it does not exhibit epiphytic characteristics, such as being a holoepiphyte or hemiepiphyte, and instead establishes itself firmly within its substrate.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height min:

0.01 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Indigofera spicata is characterized by specific morphological adaptations in its foliage that facilitate efficient resource acquisition and metabolic processes. The leaves exhibit a distinct structural dimension, typically reaching a maximum length of 4 cm, which optimizes the surface area available for light interception and gas exchange. The width of these leaves shows a physiological range of variation, measuring as narrow as 0.25 cm and extending to a maximum of 0.8 cm. This narrow, linear-to-oblong leaf architecture suggests a physiological strategy to minimize transpiration rates while maintaining sufficient photosynthetic capacity within its specific ecological niche.

Leaf length max:

4 cm

Leaf width max:

0.8 cm

Leaf width min:

0.25 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Indigofera spicata is characterized by the production of small seeds with a highly consistent mass, recorded at a mean, minimum, and maximum of 0.00052 g. The plant produces fruit in the form of a pod, which is a dehiscent structure, meaning it opens at maturity to release its contents. The dispersal of these seeds follows an autochorous syndrome, where the plant utilizes its own mechanisms for seed dispersal.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Fruit type :

pod

Seed mass mean:

0.00052 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Indigofera spicata has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Root

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Conditions

Indigofera spicata has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include diarrhea.

Diarrhea

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Preparations

Indigofera spicata has 1 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include hydromethanolic crude extract.

Hydromethanolic crude extract

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine