sal-leaved desmodium

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• sal-leaved desmodium

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Meibomia natalitia
• Hedysarum maculatum
• Meibomia polygonoides
• Desmodium polygonoides
• Desmodium maculatum
• Desmodium natalitium
• Desmodium collinum
• Aeschynomene maculata
• Desmodium lanceolatum
• Desmodium gangeticum var. maculatum
• Desmodium gangeticum
• Aeschynomene gangetica
• Meibomia gangetica
• Hedysarum lanceolatum
• Hedysarum gangeticum
• Desmodium cavaleriei

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Finally, its specific classification places it within the genus Pleurolobus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Pleurolobus gangeticus, exhibits a specific distribution across several nations in West Tropical Africa. It can be found growing within the borders of Benin and Burkina. Additionally, the species is documented to inhabit the territories of Gambia and Ghana. Its range also extends further into the region to include Guinea-Bissau. Through these locations, the plant maintains its presence across these distinct West African landscapes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pleurolobus gangeticus is characterized by its adaptation to diverse altitudinal gradients within its natural habitat. This species thrives across a broad vertical distribution, establishing itself in environments ranging from low-lying areas at an elevation of 60 m AMSL to higher mountainous or hilly terrains reaching a maximum of 1400 m AMSL. This wide elevational range suggests a versatile ecological niche, allowing the plant to inhabit various microclimates and soil conditions found between these two extremes.

Elevational range max:

1400 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

60 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Pleurolobus gangeticus is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle within a single year. Structurally, the species exhibits a chamaephyte life form, indicating that its regenerative buds are located close to the soil surface, often just above or at ground level. This specific growth habit, consistent across its life form categorization as a chamaephyte, enables the plant to endure environmental fluctuations and maintain its presence within its ecological niche over an extended duration.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pleurolobus gangeticus is characterized by a growth form categorized as a subshrub or shrub, exhibiting a non-woody structure. This plant typically grows in a terrestrial habitat and functions as an independent organism, rather than acting as a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of its physical stature, it is a self-supporting plant that does not require climbing structures, with a height that varies from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 2 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 1 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Growth form :

subshrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

1 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pleurolobus gangeticus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation efficiency. The plant exhibits significant morphological variability in its foliage, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 1.2 cm to a maximum of 8 cm, while leaf widths fluctuate between 1.3 cm and 6 cm. Furthermore, the plant demonstrates a specialized physiological capability for nitrogen fixation, as indicated by its status as a nitrogen fixer, which allows it to enhance soil fertility and support its own nutritional requirements in diverse environments.

Leaf length max:

8 cm

Leaf length min:

1.2 cm

Leaf width max:

6 cm

Leaf width min:

1.3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pleurolobus gangeticus is characterized by a specific flowering phenology and specialized fruit development. The flowering period typically begins in July and concludes in August, though the timing can be variable. Following pollination, the plant produces fruit classified as a pod. These fruits are dehiscent, meaning they split open at maturity to facilitate seed dispersal. The seeds produced are notably minute, with a mean mass of approximately 0.0015375 g. The seed weight exhibits a narrow range of variation, with a minimum mass recorded at 0.0014 g and a maximum mass reaching 0.00159 g.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit type :

pod

Seed mass max:

0.00159 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0015375 g

Seed mass min:

0.0014 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Pleurolobus gangeticus has 1 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 root.

Root

1. Natural product research
2. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology
3. Ancient science of life
4. Future journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Chemicals

Pleurolobus gangeticus has 23 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include gangetinin, Desmocarpin, Desmodin, Gangetin, caffeic acid.

gangetinin

1. Current molecular medicine
2. Natural product research
3. Future journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Desmocarpin

1. Current molecular medicine
2. Future journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Desmodin

1. Current molecular medicine
2. Future journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Gangetin

1. Current molecular medicine
2. Future journal of pharmaceutical sciences

caffeic acid

1. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology
2. Natural product research

2'-Hydroxygenistein

1. Dr. Duke

CHLOROFORM

1. Ancient science of life

Coumarins

1. Future journal of pharmaceutical sciences

FLAVONE

1. Planta medica

Flavonoids

1. Future journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Activities

Pleurolobus gangeticus has 78 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antimicrobial, Abortifacient, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology
3. Current molecular medicine
4. Natural product research

Antibacterial

1. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology
2. Ancient science of life

Antimicrobial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research

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

1. Natural product research

Conditions

Pleurolobus gangeticus has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include kidney stones.

Kidney stones

1. Applied biochemistry and biotechnology

Preparations

Pleurolobus gangeticus has 18 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extract, 'Amrita Oil', 'Amrita-Prâsa clarified butter', Crude ethanolic extract, D. gangeticum root.

Extract

1. Planta medica
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

'amrita oil'

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

'amrita-prâsa clarified butter'

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Crude ethanolic extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

D. gangeticum root

1. Natural product research

Dashamoola

1. Natural product research

Laghupanchamoola

1. Natural product research

Aqueous (f004)

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous extract

1. Ancient science of life

Chloroform extract

1. Ancient science of life