Ludwigia adscendens
Ludwigia adscendens · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Extensive (162 studies) · ★★★★☆
Ludwigia ascendens, scientifically known as Ludwigia ascendens, is a versatile medicinal plant valued in traditional healing practices. Often found in wetland habitats, it possesses significant therapeutic properties used to treat various ailments. Exploring its phytochemical profile reveals its potential role in modern pharmacology and holistic wellness treatments.
- Family
- Not available
- Native range
- Africa
- Parts used
- Not available
- Common names
- Not available
- Scientific synonyms
- Not available
Names and Synonyms
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Ludwigia adscendensDistribution
This plant exhibits a broad geographical presence across several regions of the African continent. In Northern Africa, its distribution includes the countries of Algeria, Egypt, and Libya. Moving toward the western portion of the continent, the species is also found within West Tropical Africa. Specifically, it inhabits the territories of both Benin and Burkina Faso. Consequently, these diverse locations highlight the wide environmental range of this medicinal species.
| Region | Area |
|---|---|
| Northern Africa | Algeria |
| Northern Africa | Egypt |
| Northern Africa | Libya |
| West Tropical Africa | Benin |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina |
| West Tropical Africa | Gambia |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea-Bissau |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast |
Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)
Botanical Identification
Ecology
The ecology of Ludwigia ascendens is characterized by its preference for aquatic and semi-aquatic environments, where it is commonly found inhabiting swamps, pools, lakes, and rivers. This species demonstrates a broad altitudinal distribution, ranging from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1100 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range centered around 350 m AMSL. Its presence in these water-rich habitats suggests an adaptation to saturated soils and varying water levels within freshwater ecosystems.
- Elevational range max:
- 1100 m AMSL
- Elevational range mean:
- 350 m AMSL
- Elevational range min:
- 0 m AMSL
- Habitat :
- swamps, pools, lakes and rivers
Life history
The life history of Ludwigia ascendens is characterized by its perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. Structurally, it functions as a hydrophyte, an adaptation that enables it to thrive in aquatic or semi-aquatic environments where water availability is constant. Furthermore, its biological classification as a cryptophyte indicates that its perennating buds are located below the soil surface or under a layer of substrate, providing a survival mechanism against unfavorable environmental conditions.
- Life form :
- hydrophyte
- Life form :
- cryptophyte
- Lifecycle :
- perennial
Morphology
Morphologically, Ludwigia ascendens is characterized as a non-woody herb that exhibits a diverse range of growth habits, functioning as an aquatic, semiaquatic, or terrestrial species. The plant is categorized as a self-supporting herb rather than a liana or vine, and it maintains a terrestrial lifestyle rather than acting as an epiphyte. In terms of its stature, the plant displays variable height, ranging from a minimum of 0 m to a maximum of 1 m, with an average height of approximately 0.6 m. Furthermore, it is an independent organism that does not function as a parasite.
- Aquatic :
- aquatic
- Climber :
- self-supporting
- Epiphyte :
- terrestrial
- Growth form :
- herb
- Parasite :
- independent
- Plant height max:
- 1 m
- Plant height mean:
- 0.6 m
- Plant height min:
- 0 m
- Woodiness :
- non-woody
Physiology
The physiology of Ludwigia ascendens is characterized by a specific metabolic framework designed for survival in its native aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats. Regarding its carbon assimilation, the plant utilizes a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which involves the direct fixation of carbon dioxide by the enzyme RuBisCO during the Calvin cycle, rather than employing the specialized mechanisms found in C4 or CAM plants. Furthermore, in terms of its nutrient acquisition capabilities, Ludwigia ascendens is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form and must instead rely on the uptake of available nitrates or ammonium from its surrounding substrate and water column.
- Nitrogen fixer :
- no
- Photosynthetic pathway :
- C3
Reproduction
The reproduction of Ludwigia ascendens is characterized by specific morphological and biological traits that facilitate its life cycle. The plant is capable of self-fertilization, a mechanism that ensures reproductive success even in isolation. Its dispersal strategy is classified as autochorous, meaning it relies on internal mechanisms for seed dispersal rather than external agents like wind or animals. The seeds produced by this species are notably small, with a recorded minimum mass of 0.00026 g and a maximum mass of 0.00077 g, resulting in a mean seed mass of 0.000515 g.
- Dispersal syndrome :
- autochorous
- Seed mass max:
- 0.00077 g
- Seed mass mean:
- 0.000515 g
- Seed mass min:
- 0.00026 g
- Self fertilization :
- present
Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)
Chemicals
Ludwigia adscendens has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Kaempferol 3-O-glucoside, Myricetin 3-O-galactoside, Myricetin 3-O-rhamnoside, Quercetin 3-O-glucoside, quercetin.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Kaempferol 3-O-glucoside | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Myricetin 3-O-galactoside | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Myricetin 3-O-rhamnoside | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Quercetin 3-O-glucoside | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| quercetin | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Kaempferol 3-O-glucoside
- Dr. Duke
Myricetin 3-O-galactoside
- Dr. Duke
Myricetin 3-O-rhamnoside
- Dr. Duke
Quercetin 3-O-glucoside
- Dr. Duke
quercetin
- Dr. Duke
Activities
Ludwigia adscendens has 157 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor, ATPase-Inhibitor, Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor.
| Activity | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| 11B-HSD-Inhibitor | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ATPase-Inhibitor | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Allelochemic | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Allergenic | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| AntiCrohn's | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| AntiGTF | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
11B-HSD-Inhibitor
- Dr. Duke
5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor
- Dr. Duke
ATPase-Inhibitor
- Dr. Duke
Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor
- Dr. Duke
Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor
- Dr. Duke
Allelochemic
- Dr. Duke
Allergenic
- Dr. Duke
Analgesic
- Dr. Duke
AntiCrohn's
- Dr. Duke
AntiGTF
- Dr. Duke