Ipomoea asarifolia

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Amphione asarifolia
• Convolvulus beladambu
• Ipomoea rugosa
• Ipomoea crassifolia
• Ipomoea asarifolia f. deltoidea
• Convolvulus asarifolius
• Ipomoea asarifolia f. suffrutescens
• Convolvulus flagelliformis
• Convolvulus rugosus
• Ipomoea pes-caprae var. heterosepala
• Ipomoea yetira
• Ipomoea repens
• Ipomoea urbica
• Ipomoea urbica var. muricata
• Ipomoea vogelii
• Ipomoea flagelliformis
• Ipomoea grisebachii

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, specifically classified under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Solanales, it is a member of the family Convolvulaceae. Its scientific classification concludes with the genus Ipomoea, identifying it as Ipomoea asarifolia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a notable geographical distribution spanning both Atlantic islands and the African mainland. Within the Macaronesian region, it can be found growing in Cape Verde. Its presence extends significantly into West Tropical Africa across several different nations. Specifically, the species is documented in Burkina, Gambia, and Ghana. Additionally, its range includes the coastal areas of Guinea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Ipomoea asarifolia is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse environments, ranging from highly modified landscapes to specific natural biomes. It thrives in various habitats, including anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), the semi-arid Caatinga (strictu sensu), floodplain fields (Campo de Várzea), riparian or gallery forests (Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria), and coastal restinga ecosystems. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, occupying elevations from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum of 1000 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range of approximately 12 m AMSL, indicating a strong preference for lowland and coastal regions despite its ability to colonize higher terrains.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

12 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Campo de Várzea, Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Restinga

Life history

The life history of Ipomoea asarifolia is characterized by its classification as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural survival strategies, the plant functions as a geophyte, utilizing underground storage organs to endure unfavorable environmental conditions. Furthermore, its life form is categorized as a cryptophyte, meaning its essential regenerative buds are protected beneath the soil surface, ensuring its continued survival and ability to re-emerge during favorable climatic periods.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ipomoea asarifolia is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb, which manifests as a climbing plant. It functions as a liana or vine, utilizing a self-supporting climbing mechanism to ascend various substrates. Rather than being an epiphyte, the plant is strictly terrestrial in its ecological positioning, occupying habitats that range from aquatic and semiaquatic to terrestrial environments. As a non-parasitic organism, it maintains an independent lifestyle, relying on its own metabolic processes rather than hosting a parasitic relationship with other plants.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ipomoea asarifolia is characterized by its specific metabolic and nutrient-acquisition strategies. The plant utilizes a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which involves the direct fixation of carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle without the specialized CO2-concentrating mechanisms found in C4 or CAM species. Regarding its nitrogen metabolism, the species is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of inorganic nitrogen sources, such as nitrates and ammonium, from the soil rather than through symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ipomoea asarifolia is centered on the production and dispersal of its seeds, which exhibit highly consistent physical characteristics. Quantitative analysis of its reproductive output reveals a uniform seed mass, with a mean value of 0.07745 g. This consistency is reflected in the lack of variance within the population, as both the maximum and minimum recorded seed masses are identical at 0.07745 g. Such precise uniformity in seed mass suggests a stabilized reproductive strategy, ensuring that each seed carries a standardized amount of nutrient reserves to facilitate germination and early seedling establishment.

Seed mass mean:

0.07745 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Ipomoea asarifolia 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 ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Ipomoea asarifolia has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CHLOROGENIC ACID, RUTIN, caffeic acid.

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

RUTIN

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

caffeic acid

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Ipomoea asarifolia has 5 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include dermatitis, edema, peritonitis, scabies, skin ulcers.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations