Common Eightday Curebush

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Common Eightday Curebush
• Eightday Healthbush
• Pyjama
• Pyjama Bush

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lobostemon obovatus
• Echium fruticosum var. minor
• Echium africanum
• Lobostemon lasiophyllus
• Echium bergianum
• Lobostemon scaber
• Echium frondosum
• Echium fruticosum
• Lobostemon fruticosus var. bergianus
• Echium lasiophyllum
• Echium obovatum
• Echium scabrum

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Boraginales and the family Boraginaceae, it is classified under the genus Lobostemon. Specifically, the species is identified as Lobostemon fruticosus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is a species native to a specific region within the southern part of the African continent. Its primary geographical distribution is concentrated within the Cape Provinces of South Africa. Within this area, it thrives in the unique ecological conditions provided by the local climate and soil. The range of Lobostemon fruticosus is therefore quite localized to these southern coastal and inland territories. Understanding this specific habitat is essential for studying the natural occurrence of the species.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Lobostemon fruticosus is characterized by its ability to inhabit a diverse range of altitudinal gradients, allowing it to occupy various ecological niches within its native landscape. This species demonstrates significant environmental plasticity, thriving in habitats that span from low-lying areas at a minimum elevation of 30 m AMSL to much higher montane regions, reaching a maximum elevation of 1372 m AMSL. This broad elevational range suggests that the plant is adapted to a variety of microclimates, including different temperature regimes, moisture availability, and atmospheric pressures encountered between sea level and sub-montane zones. Such a wide distribution pattern typically indicates a resilience to varying soil compositions and light availability, enabling it to persist across a complex topographical spectrum.

Elevational range max:

1372 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

30 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Lobostemon fruticosus is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. Unlike annuals that complete their life cycle in a single year or biennials that require two, this plant maintains a long-term presence, often establishing stable woody or semi-woody structures that support continuous growth and reproductive efforts. This perennial nature enables it to adapt to seasonal fluctuations and invest energy into sustained physiological processes, ensuring its longevity within its natural habitat.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Lobostemon fruticosus is characterized by a shrubby growth form, exhibiting a woody structure that defines its physical development. This plant typically reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 0.8 m. As a self-supporting species, it does not require external structures for climbing, maintaining its upright posture through its own woody stems. In terms of its ecological habitat and life strategy, it is categorized as a terrestrial plant, functioning as an independent organism rather than acting as a parasite or an epiphyte. While its growth patterns are adapted to terrestrial environments, its physiological classification spans the spectrum of aquatic, semiaquatic, and terrestrial niches, though it primarily manifests as a terrestrial shrub.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.8 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Lobostemon fruticosus 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

Lobostemon fruticosus has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include GLOBOIDNAN B, Globoidnan A, RUTIN, Rabdosiin, Sagerinic acid.

GLOBOIDNAN B

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Globoidnan A

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

RUTIN

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Rabdosiin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Sagerinic acid

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

rosmarinic acid

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Lobostemon fruticosus has 2 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antiviral.

Antibacterial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antiviral

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Lobostemon fruticosus has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include burns, eczema, erysipelas, ringworm, wounds.

Burns

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Eczema

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Erysipelas

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ringworm

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Wounds

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Lobostemon fruticosus has 2 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include acetone extract, crude extract.

Acetone extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Crude extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology