Rhynchosia minima
Rhynchosia minima, commonly known as the small pink pea, is a diminutive annual herb belonging to the Fabaceae family. Native to diverse habitats, this resilient plant is recognized for its delicate, pea-like flowers. While primarily studied for its botanical characteristics, it holds potential interest in traditional medicinal ethnobotany.
- Scientific name: Rhynchosia minima
- Family: Fabaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. Further taxonomic placement includes its position in the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Fabales. Finally, it is a member of the family Fabaceae and is identified by the genus Rhynchosia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Fabales | WCVP |
| Family | Fabaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Rhynchosia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Rhynchosia minima, is referred to by various regional names depending on the linguistic context. In Simplified Chinese, it is commonly called 小鹿藿 (zh-hans), as are its counterparts in Hong Kong (zh-hk) and standard Chinese (zh). In Traditional Chinese, the name is written as 小鹿藿 (zh-hant), while in Taiwan (zh-tw), it is specifically known as 小葉括根.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 小鹿藿 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 小鹿藿 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 小鹿藿 | Wikidata |
| zh | 小鹿藿 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 小葉括根 | Wikidata |
| fa | ناونوکی رونده | Wikidata |
| ja | ヒメノアズキ | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 小鹿藿 | Wikidata |
| fr | Rhynchosia memnonia | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 小鹿霍 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning several distinct regions. In Northern Africa, it can be found across the territories of Algeria, Egypt, and Morocco. Its presence extends to the Macaronesian islands, specifically within Cape Verde. Additionally, the species is located in West Tropical Africa, notably in Benin. Together, these locations highlight the plant's ability to inhabit varied environments across the African continent.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Africa | Algeria | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Egypt | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Morocco | WCVP |
| Macaronesia | Cape Verde | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Liberia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Mali | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known scientifically as Rhynchosia minima, is a small herbaceous species where the root serves as a vital component of its biological structure. While the plant is often recognized for its delicate foliage and flowers, the root system functions to anchor the specimen firmly into the soil and facilitate the absorption of essential nutrients and water necessary for its survival in its natural habitat.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| root | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Rhynchosia minima has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include arabinose, epigallocatechin, galactose, glucose, mannose.
- Total chemicals
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| arabinose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| epigallocatechin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| galactose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| glucose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| mannose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |