Madras leaf-flower

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Nellica maderaspatensis
• Diasperus maderaspatensis

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Malpighiales, it is classified under the family Phyllanthaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Phyllanthus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide distribution across several distinct regions in Africa. Within the Macaronesian islands, its presence is specifically noted in Cape Verde. Moving to the mainland, it is found throughout various parts of West Tropical Africa. This includes populations located in Benin, Burkina, and Ghana. Furthermore, the species extends its range into the Ivory Coast.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Phyllanthus maderaespatiensis is characterized by its ability to thrive across a diverse range of altitudinal gradients, spanning from lowlands at 45 m AMSL to montane environments reaching up to a maximum of 1720 m AMSL. This species demonstrates significant ecological plasticity, occupying various distinct habitats including deciduous woodlands, bushland, and wooded grasslands. Additionally, it is frequently found in more localized microhabitats such as streamside edges and is capable of colonizing disturbed places, indicating a resilient nature within its native landscapes.

Elevational range max:

1720 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

45 m AMSL

Habitat :

deciduous woodland, bushland and wooded grassland, streamside edges, disturbed places

Life history

The life history of Phyllanthus maderaespatiensis is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the individual to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its ecological strategy and structural growth, the plant exhibits distinct life forms depending on its environmental context and developmental stage, manifesting as both a chamaephyte and a therophyte. This dual classification suggests a flexible survival strategy where the plant can maintain low-growing, woody structures near the soil surface or complete specific life cycles as ephemeral annuals, ensuring its continued presence within its medicinal habitat.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Phyllanthus maderaespatiensis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. As a terrestrial species, it functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant exhibits a self-supporting climbing habit, meaning it does not require external structures for support like a vine or liana. In terms of stature, it is a relatively small plant with a height ranging from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 1 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 0.93 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.933333333333333 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Phyllanthus maderaespatiensis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant's vegetative structure is defined by leaves that exhibit significant morphological variability in size, with a mean length of 2 cm. These leaves range in length from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 4 cm, while maintaining a relatively narrow profile with a maximum width of 0.5 cm. Furthermore, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on the uptake of available nitrogen from the surrounding substrate to support its physiological requirements and growth.

Leaf length max:

4 cm

Leaf length mean:

2 cm

Leaf length min:

1 cm

Leaf width max:

0.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Phyllanthus maderapatensis is characterized by small, delicate flowers that typically range in length from a minimum of 0.12 cm to a maximum of 0.25 cm. Following pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of a capsule. These fruits maintain a consistent width, with recorded measurements showing a minimum, mean, and maximum value of 0.5 cm. The fruit is dehiscence-type, meaning it is dehiscent to allow for the release of its seeds. The resulting seeds are quite minute, exhibiting a mean mass of approximately 0.0004895 g, with individual seed masses ranging from a minimum of 0.00025 g to a maximum of 0.000649 g. In terms of propagation strategy, the species utilizes an unspecialized dispersal syndrome, suggesting a generalized method of seed distribution in its natural habitat.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Flower length max:

0.25 cm

Flower length min:

0.12 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

0.5 cm

Seed mass max:

0.000649 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0004895 g

Seed mass min:

0.00025 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Phyllanthus maderaspatensis 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 seed.

Seed

1. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology

Chemicals

Phyllanthus maderaspatensis has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Hypophyllanthin, Phyllanthin, Amine, Gallic acid, Halo.

Hypophyllanthin

1. Journal of separation science
2. Pharmaceutical biology

Phyllanthin

1. Journal of separation science
2. Pharmaceutical biology

Amine

1. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology

Gallic acid

1. Journal of separation science

Halo

1. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology

Niranthin

1. Journal of separation science

Nirtetralin

1. Journal of separation science

alcohol

1. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology

aldehyde

1. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology

ellagic acid

1. Journal of separation science

Activities

Phyllanthus maderaspatensis has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial.

Antibacterial

1. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology

Conditions

Phyllanthus maderaspatensis has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Hepadnaviruses, chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

Hepadnaviruses

1. Journal of medical virology

Chronic hepatitis b virus infection

1. Journal of medical virology

Preparations

Phyllanthus maderaspatensis has 5 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Ethanolic extracts, alcoholic extracts, aqueous extracts, butanol extracts, seed extract.

Ethanolic extracts

1. Fitoterapia

Alcoholic extracts

1. Journal of medical virology

Aqueous extracts

1. Journal of medical virology

Butanol extracts

1. Journal of medical virology

Seed extract

1. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology