Neonotonia wightii

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant, Neonotonia wightii, is primarily distributed across the region of West Tropical Africa. Its natural range encompasses several distinct countries within this lush geographical belt. Specifically, the species can be found growing in the territories of Benin and Ghana. Furthermore, its presence extends into the coastal and forested areas of Guinea and Ivory Coast. Finally, the distribution of this medicinal plant includes the nation of Liberia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Neonotonia wightii is characterized by its ability to thrive across a diverse altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to an elevation of 1500 m AMSL. Its distribution is notably associated with anthropic areas (Área Antrópica), indicating a strong capacity to colonize and persist in environments modified or influenced by human activity.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Neonotonia wightii is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and maintain a long-term presence within its ecological niche. Structurally, the plant exhibits a life form classified as a hemicryptophyte, meaning its perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or other organic matter during unfavorable environmental conditions. This combination of a perennial lifecycle and a hemicryptophytic growth habit enables the species to endure seasonal fluctuations and regenerate effectively from its ground-level buds.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Neonotonia wightii is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. This plant exhibits a variable height, with recorded measurements ranging from a minimum of 0.6 m to a maximum of 4.5 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 2.75 m. In terms of its habit, it is an obligatory climber that functions as a self-supporting organism within its environment. It is classified as a terrestrial species, meaning it does not exhibit aquatic or epiphytic tendencies, and it grows as an independent organism without parasitic behavior.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

4.5 m

Plant height mean:

2.75333333333333 m

Plant height min:

0.6 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Neonotonia wightii is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency within its environment. The plant's vegetative structure features leaves that vary significantly in dimension, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 15 cm, while the leaf width fluctuates between 0.6 cm and 7 cm. Furthermore, it possesses the specialized physiological capability of being a nitrogen fixer, allowing it to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form, which enhances its nutrient uptake and supports growth in nitrogen-limited soils.

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf width max:

7 cm

Leaf width min:

0.6 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Neonotonia wightii is characterized by the development of fruit in the form of a pod. These fruits are dehiscence-based, meaning they are capable of splitting open at maturity to facilitate the release of seeds. The seeds produced by the plant exhibit a notable range in mass; they have a minimum seed mass of 0.00189 g and a maximum seed mass of 0.05252 g, resulting in an average seed mass of approximately 0.0053849048 g.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Fruit type :

pod

Seed mass max:

0.05252 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0053849048 g

Seed mass min:

0.00189 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Neonotonia wightii has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include genistein.

genistein

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Neonotonia wightii has 72 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Abortifacient, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor, Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, Antiaggregant, Antiangiogenic.

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Antiaggregant

1. Dr. Duke

Antiangiogenic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiatherosclerotic

1. Dr. Duke

Anticancer (Breast)

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic (Breast)

1. Dr. Duke

Anticlimacteric

1. Dr. Duke

Antiendoccytotic

1. Dr. Duke