African mile-a-minute

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Mikania carteri
• Eupatorium cordatum
• Eupatorium volubile
• Mikania volubilis
• Eupatorium trinitarium var. volubile

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Asterales and is a member of the Asteraceae family. Ultimately, it is categorized under the genus Mikania.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily found within the diverse ecosystems of West Tropical Africa. Its specific geographical range includes the nation of Gambia, where it grows in local habitats. It is also documented to occur throughout the coastal and inland regions of Ghana. Furthermore, the species can be identified within the territories of Guinea-Bissau and Guinea. Finally, its distribution extends to the tropical landscapes of the Ivory Coast.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Mikania cordata is characterized by its specific altitudinal preferences, primarily occupying low-lying coastal or lowland regions. The species is found within a narrow elevational range, typically spanning from a minimum of 80 m AMSL to a maximum of 100 m AMSL. This distribution suggests a highly specialized niche, with the plant maintaining a mean elevation of approximately 90 m AMSL. Such a restricted vertical range indicates that the species thrives in specific environmental conditions, such as particular humidity levels, temperature gradients, or soil compositions, that are characteristic of these low-altitude habitats.

Elevational range max:

100 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

90 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

80 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Mikania cordata is characterized by its perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural life form, it exhibits characteristics of a phanerophyte, often utilizing climbing or sprawling mechanisms to occupy space, while also displaying the traits of a hemicryptophyte, where its perennating buds are located at or just below the soil surface to survive unfavorable environmental conditions.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Mikania cordata is characterized by its growth habit as a non-woody herb and forb, functioning primarily as an obligatory climbing liana. It exhibits a terrestrial existence, growing independently without parasitic dependencies or epiphytic requirements. As a vigorous climber, it utilizes its stems to ascend structures, reaching a maximum plant height of approximately 7.62 meters. The plant's structure is defined by its flexible, non-woody stems that allow it to sprawl or climb through various environments, ranging from semi-aquatic to purely terrestrial habitats.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

liana

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

7.62009266 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Mikania cordata is characterized by specific morphological dimensions and nutrient processing capabilities. The plant's foliage exhibits significant variability in size, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 10 cm, while maintaining a mean leaf length of 7 cm. The width of the leaves also demonstrates a broad spectrum, measuring as little as 2 cm at the minimum and extending up to a maximum of 7 cm, resulting in a mean leaf width of 4.5 cm. Regarding its metabolic interaction with soil nutrients, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the physiological mechanisms to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form for its own growth.

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length mean:

7 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf width max:

7 cm

Leaf width mean:

4.5 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Mikania cordata is characterized by the production of specialized fruit and seed structures that facilitate its dispersal. The plant produces small fruits that exhibit a highly consistent size, with a mean fruit length of 0.35 cm, a minimum length of 0.35 cm, and a maximum length of 0.35 cm. Accompanying these fruits are minute seeds that demonstrate extreme uniformity in their physical properties; the seed mass remains constant across all measured samples, with a mean, minimum, and maximum mass of 9e-05 g. This high degree of consistency in both fruit dimensions and seed weight suggests a highly standardized reproductive strategy within the species.

Fruit length max:

0.35 cm

Seed mass mean:

9e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Mikania cordata has 2 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, leaf.

Root

1. Planta medica
2. Cancer letters
3. The Italian journal of biochemistry

Leaf

1. Fitoterapia
2. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Chemicals

Mikania cordata has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Scandenolide.

Scandenolide

1. Planta medica

Activities

Mikania cordata has 1 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticarcinogenic.

Anticarcinogenic

1. Cancer letters

Conditions

Mikania cordata has 6 reported investigations on conditions identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include bleeding, cough, gastric ulcer, gastrointestinal disorders, wound healing.

Bleeding

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Cough

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Gastric ulcer

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Gastrointestinal disorders

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Wound healing

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Wounds

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Preparations

Mikania cordata has 5 reported preparations identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include A decoction, ethanolic extract of the leaves, methanolic extract of this plant root, root extract, vegetable.

A decoction

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Ethanolic extract of the leaves

1. Fitoterapia

Methanolic extract of this plant root

1. Cancer letters

Root extract

1. The Italian journal of biochemistry

Vegetable

1. Cancer letters