black cincau

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• black cincau
• mesona
• Chinese Mesona
• Jellywort

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Mesona parviflora
• Mesona chinensis
• Mesona elegans
• Mesona palustris
• Mesona philippinensis
• Geniosporum parviflorum
• Platostoma chinense
• Mesona procumbens

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Platostoma palustre, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae within the order Lamiales. Finally, it resides in the family Lamiaceae under the genus Platostoma.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several key regions in Asia. In China, its presence is noted specifically within the South-Central and Southeast territories. Moving toward Eastern Asia, it can also be found growing in Taiwan. The distribution extends further into the Indian Subcontinent, where it is located in Assam. Additionally, the species is documented to inhabit parts of Bangladesh.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Platostoma palustre is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning it completes its entire biological progression from germination to seed production within a single growing season. In terms of its ecological classification and growth habit, the species functions as a therophyte, a life form defined by its reliance on ephemeral structures to survive unfavorable conditions. This strategy allows the plant to exist primarily as a seasonal organism, utilizing its specialized life form to maximize reproductive output during its brief period of vegetative growth before returning to a seed state.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Platostoma palustre is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, reaching an average plant height of approximately 0.4 m. The plant is self-supporting in its structure and does not function as a climber. It is an independent species, meaning it does not act as a parasite, and it maintains a terrestrial lifestyle rather than being an epiphyte.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

0.4 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Platostoma palustre is characterized by complex metabolic processes centered around its specialized secondary metabolite production, particularly within the glandular trichomes located on its leaves and stems. These structures facilitate the synthesis and secretion of bioactive compounds such as diterpenoids and flavonoids through intricate enzymatic pathways. The plant's nutritional strategy is primarily dependent on the uptake of minerals and nitrogen from the surrounding soil through its root system; notably, it is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms. Instead, its physiological growth is governed by the efficient absorption of nitrates and ammonium from the substrate. Photosynthetic efficiency is maintained through specialized chloroplast activity that drives the carbon fixation necessary for the biosynthesis of its medicinal constituents, while its water regulation is managed via stomatal conductance to balance transpiration and nutrient transport.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Platostoma palustre is characterized by a complex reproductive strategy driven primarily by biotic mechanisms. The plant relies on biotic pollination syndromes to facilitate the transfer of pollen between flowers, ensuring genetic diversity through biological agents. Specifically, the pollination process is heavily dependent on insects, which serve as the primary vectors for pollen dispersal. This insect-mediated interaction is a key component of its reproductive cycle, where various insect species interact with the floral structures to achieve fertilization. By utilizing these biotic pollination syndromes, the plant ensures a reliable method of reproduction through the active involvement of animal pollinators.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Platostoma palustre has 2 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem.

Leaf

1. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)
2. Frontiers in plant science

Stem

1. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)
2. Frontiers in plant science

Chemicals

Platostoma palustre has 37 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CHLOROPHYLL, Flavonoids, Ash, BUTYROLACTONE, CAT.

CHLOROPHYLL

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
2. BMC plant biology

Flavonoids

1. BMC plant biology
2. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Ash

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

BUTYROLACTONE

1. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

CAT

1. BMC plant biology

CHLOROPHYLL B

1. BMC plant biology

Carotenoid

1. BMC plant biology

Caryophyllene

1. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

D-(+)-Trehalose

1. Scientific reports

D-Sorbitol

1. BMC plant biology

Activities

Platostoma palustre has 3 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antihypertensive, Antioxidant.

Antidiabetic

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Antihypertensive

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Platostoma palustre has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include salt stress.

Salt stress

1. BMC plant biology

Preparations

Platostoma palustre has 10 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include 95% ethanol extract of the grass parts of M. chinensis, Hsian-tsao tea, drinks, drying (H), herbal jelly.

95% ethanol extract of the grass parts of m. chinensis

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Hsian-tsao tea

1. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

Drinks

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Drying (h)

1. Frontiers in nutrition

Herbal jelly

1. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

Soft textured sweet treats

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Sweating (m)

1. Frontiers in nutrition

Sweet herbal jelly soup

1. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

Tedding (s)

1. Frontiers in nutrition

Traditional medicine

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)