Neptunia oleracea

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Distribution

This plant is primarily located within the West Tropical Africa region. Specifically, its presence has been documented throughout the country of Benin. It is also found spreading across the territories of Burkina and Gambia. Furthermore, the species can be located within the borders of Ghana. Finally, its geographical range extends into Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Neptunia oleacea is characterized by its preference for aquatic vegetation and its ability to thrive within anthropic areas. This species demonstrates a broad altitudinal adaptability, occupying an elevational range that begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends up to a maximum of 1150 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1150 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Vegetação Aquática

Life history

The life history of Neptunia oleracea is characterized by its perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a specialized organism adapted to aquatic environments, its life form is classified as a hydrophyte, specifically functioning as a cryptophyte where much of its vital biomass is protected below the water surface or substrate. This combination of a long-lived perennial nature and a hydrophyte life form enables the species to maintain stable populations within its niche, utilizing its cryptic growth strategy to survive varying hydrological conditions.

Life form :

hydrophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Neptunia oleacea is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. This plant typically functions as a self-supporting organism rather than a vine or liana, exhibiting a growth habit that is categorized as self-supporting in its climbing capacity. It is a terrestrial species, though it possesses aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies depending on its environment. The plant grows to a mean height of approximately 1.5 m, with a maximum height potential reaching up to 2.5 m. As an independent organism, it does not exhibit parasitic behavior, maintaining a non-woody structure throughout its development.

Aquatic :

aquatic

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2.5 m

Plant height mean:

1.5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Neptunia oleracea is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon assimilation processes and metabolic efficiency within its aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats. In terms of nutrient cycling and symbiotic capabilities, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized biological mechanism to convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia through symbiotic relationships with diazotrophic bacteria.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Neptunia oleacea is characterized by the production of specialized seeds that exhibit high morphological consistency in terms of weight. Quantitative analysis of the seed mass reveals a very narrow range of variation, indicating a highly standardized reproductive output. The seeds possess a mean mass of 0.01835 g, with individual specimens recorded at a maximum of 0.01868 g and a minimum of 0.01802 g. This minimal deviation between the maximum and minimum values suggests a stable genetic or environmental influence on the development of the seeds, ensuring a uniform seed bank for the propagation of the species.

Seed mass max:

0.01868 g

Seed mass mean:

0.01835 g

Seed mass min:

0.01802 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Neptunia oleracea 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. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry