Premna herbacea

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Premna acaulis
• Pygmaeopremna acaulis
• Tatea humilis
• Premna macrophylla var. glaberrima
• Tatea acaulis
• Pygmaeopremna herbacea var. thailandica
• Premna sessilifolia
• Gumira herbacea
• Tatea herbacea
• Premna obovata
• Pygmaeopremna herbacea
• Pygmaeopremna humilis
• Pygmaeopremna sessilifolia

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Lamiales and the family Lamiaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Premna.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across several key regions in Asia. In China, it can be found specifically throughout the South-Central areas as well as on Hainan island. Its presence extends into the Indian Subcontinent, where it grows in the state of Assam. Additionally, the species is documented within the borders of Bangladesh. Finally, the geographical range of this medicinal plant includes the East Himalaya region.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Premna herbacea is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and maintain a stable presence within its ecological niche. Structurally, it exhibits a chamaephyte life form, meaning its regenerative buds are located close to the soil surface, often just above the ground level, which provides a level of resilience against environmental fluctuations. This combination of a long-lived lifecycle and a low-growing growth habit enables the species to effectively occupy its habitat and navigate seasonal changes over an extended period.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Premna herbacea is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. This plant is a self-supporting organism that does not exhibit climbing behavior and functions as an independent species, lacking any parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. As a terrestrial plant, it maintains a relatively small stature, with a plant height that ranges from a minimum of 0 m to a maximum of 0.5 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 0.1 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.1 m

Plant height min:

0 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Premna herbacea is characterized by a standard C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic strategy in many dicotyledonous herbs where carbon fixation occurs via the Calvin cycle within the mesophyll cells. This pathway indicates that the plant relies on the enzyme RuBisCO for the initial carboxylation of CO2, which typically dictates its physiological adaptation to environments with moderate temperature and moisture availability. Regarding its nutrient acquisition processes, Premna herbacea does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria (such as rhizobia or actinomycetes) required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms, and instead relies on the uptake of nitrates or ammonium from the soil through its root system.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Premna herbacea 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 root.

Root

1. Fitoterapia

Chemicals

Premna herbacea has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Verbascoside, isoverbascoside.

Verbascoside

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

isoverbascoside

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Activities

Premna herbacea has 2 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antinociceptive, Cytotoxic.

Antinociceptive

1. Fitoterapia

Cytotoxic

1. Phytochemistry

Medicinal Uses

Premna herbacea has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antipyretic.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations