Caterpillarpod

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Caterpillarpod
• Curled Caterpillar Bush
• Curled Caterpillar Pod
• Small Caterpillarpod
• Small caterpillar-pod

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Solulus kirkii
• Ormocarpum affinis
• Solulus mimosodes
• Ormocarpum pluriflorum
• Ormocarpum discolor
• Diphaca discolor
• Diphaca kirkii
• Ormocarpum mimosoides
• Diphaca mimosoides

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Ormocarpum kirkii, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Fabales. It is further identified as a member of the family Fabaceae and the genus Ormocarpum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad presence across several distinct regions within the tropical belt of Africa. In West-Central Tropical Africa, its distribution includes the vast territories of the DR Congo. Moving toward the northeast, the species can be found within the borders of Somalia. Its range extends through East Tropical Africa, specifically inhabiting the countries of Kenya and Tanzania. Finally, the plant reaches into South Tropical Africa, where it is documented in Malawi.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Ormocarpum kirkii is characterized by its preference for specific low-to-mid altitude environments, thriving within an elevational range that spans from 550 m to a maximum of 1300 m AMSL. This species is primarily found inhabiting dry bushland, coastal bushland, and various forms of bushed grassland, indicating an adaptation to semi-arid or seasonally dry ecosystems where scrubby vegetation and grassy patches coexist.

Elevational range max:

1300 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

550 m AMSL

Habitat :

dry bushland, coastal bushland, bushed grassland

Life history

The life history of Ormocarpum kirkii is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing the plant to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle within a single year. As a perennial, it maintains a continuous presence in its habitat, often developing robust structural components that support long-term survival and repeated reproductive efforts. This extended lifecycle enables the plant to navigate seasonal fluctuations and establish a stable ecological niche, contributing to its longevity and ability to recover from environmental stressors across successive years.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ormocarpum kirkii is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree, exhibiting a robust and independent structure. As a terrestrial species, it does not function as an epiphyte or a parasite, maintaining an independent life cycle. The plant typically reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 2 meters to a maximum of 9 meters, with an average plant height of approximately 3.75 meters. While it possesses a self-supporting climbing capability, its primary structural classification is that of a woody tree.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

9 m

Plant height mean:

3.75 m

Plant height min:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ormocarpum kirkii is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing the standard Calvin cycle to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide during the light-independent reactions. In terms of its nutrient acquisition strategy, the plant is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, and instead relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ormocarpum kirkii is characterized by the production of specialized seeds that exhibit a highly uniform physical profile. Based on empirical data, the seed mass of this species is remarkably consistent, with a mean mass of 0.01648 g. This uniformity is reflected in the extreme narrowness of its mass distribution, as both the maximum and minimum recorded seed masses are identical at 0.01648 g. Such precise consistency in seed mass suggests a highly stabilized reproductive mechanism, ensuring that each propagule produced by the plant contains a standardized amount of resources for potential germination and seedling establishment.

Seed mass mean:

0.01648 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Ormocarpum kirkii has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, stem.

Root

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Planta medica

Stem

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Chemicals

Ormocarpum kirkii has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 5,7-dihydroxy-4'-methoxy-6,8-diprenylisoflavone, Chamaejasmin, Diphysin, Erythrinasinate, Isochamaejasmin.

5,7-dihydroxy-4'-methoxy-6,8-diprenylisoflavone

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Chamaejasmin

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Diphysin

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Erythrinasinate

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Isochamaejasmin

1. Phytochemistry

Isoflavanone

1. Phytochemistry

Osajin

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Activities

Ormocarpum kirkii has 1 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimalarial.

Antimalarial

1. Phytochemistry

Conditions

Ormocarpum kirkii has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Plasmodium falciparum, antimalarial, cancer, malaria.

Plasmodium falciparum

1. Planta medica
2. Phytochemistry

Antimalarial

1. Phytochemistry

Cancer

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Malaria

1. Planta medica

Preparations

Ormocarpum kirkii has 2 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include 80 % MeOH extract of Ormocarpum kirkii (root), extracts.

80 % meoh extract of ormocarpum kirkii (root)

1. Planta medica

Extracts

1. Planta medica