Ludwigia adscendens

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

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.

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.

Kaempferol 3-O-glucoside

1. Dr. Duke

Myricetin 3-O-galactoside

1. Dr. Duke

Myricetin 3-O-rhamnoside

1. Dr. Duke

Quercetin 3-O-glucoside

1. Dr. Duke

quercetin

1. 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.

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiCrohn's

1. Dr. Duke

AntiGTF

1. Dr. Duke