Cats-whiskers

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Cats-whiskers
• butterfly-bush
• Bicoloured Cat's Whiskers
• Blue Cat's Whiskers
• Blue-Flowered Tinderwood
• Butterfly Bush
• Namibian Cat's Whiskers
• Rough-Leaved Cat's Whiskers
• Rough-leaved Cats-whiskers
• Smelly Cat's Whiskers
• Blue Butterfly-bush

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Clerodendrum myricoides
• Cyclonema myricoides
• Cyrtostemma myricoides
• Siphonanthus myricoides
• Spironema myricoides

Regional and Traditional Names

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 further categorized under the order Lamiales and the family Lamiaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement in the genus Rotheca.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across various regions of the African continent. In West-Central Tropical Africa, its presence is documented in Burundi, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The species also extends into Northeast Tropical Africa, where it can be found in Djibouti. Additionally, its range includes the nation of Eritrea within the northeastern zone. Collectively, these locations highlight a habitat spanning both West-Central and Northeast tropical territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Rotheca myricoides is characterized by its presence in diverse landscapes ranging from lowlands to montane environments, with an elevational range spanning from 30 m to a maximum of 1800 m AMSL. This species typically thrives in (secondary) dry or semi-evergreen bushland, bushed grassland, or wooded grassland habitats. Furthermore, it frequently colonizes rocky sites, demonstrating an ability to adapt to the specific substrate and moisture conditions found within these varied ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

30 m AMSL

Habitat :

(secondary) dry or semi-evergreen bushland, bushed grassland, or wooded grassland; often on rocky sites

Life history

The life history of Rotheca myricoides is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle in a single year. In terms of its structural growth habits and ecological positioning, the plant exhibits diverse life forms, functioning as both a phanerophyte, where its buds are elevated on woody branches above the ground level, and a nanophanerophyte, which describes a growth form where the shoots are relatively short and the buds are held just above the soil surface.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Rotheca myricoides is characterized by a woody growth form, primarily manifesting as a shrub. This plant is strictly terrestrial in its habitat, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of stature, it is a self-supporting plant that does not require external structures for climbing, maintaining a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.89 m to a maximum of 5 m, with an average height of approximately 3.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

5 m

Plant height mean:

3.5 m

Plant height min:

0.89 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Rotheca myricoides is characterized by specific vegetative growth patterns, particularly concerning its foliar development and structural dimensions. The plant exhibits a controlled range of leaf elongation, which serves as a key indicator of its metabolic and developmental stages. Specifically, the leaf length within this species typically fluctuates between a minimum of 6 cm and reaches a maximum of 8 cm. This standardized variation in leaf length suggests a highly regulated physiological mechanism governing cell expansion and tissue maturation during the plant's growth cycle.

Leaf length max:

8 cm

Leaf length min:

6 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Rotheca myricoides is characterized by the production of fruit categorized as a drupe, which is notably indehiscent, meaning the fruit does not split open at maturity to release its contents. The seeds produced by this species are uniform in weight, with a recorded seed mass of 0.05826 g across its minimum, mean, and maximum values. Dispersal is driven by a zoochorous syndrome, specifically utilizing endozoochory, a process where seeds are dispersed via the ingestion and subsequent excretion of the fruit by animals.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Fruit type :

drupe

Seed mass mean:

0.05826 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Rotheca myricoides 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. African health sciences

Chemicals

Rotheca myricoides has 15 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Anthraquinones, CALCIUM, CHROMIUM, CO.

Flavonoids

1. Journal of intercultural ethnopharmacology
2. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Anthraquinones

1. Journal of intercultural ethnopharmacology

CALCIUM

1. Biological trace element research

CHROMIUM

1. Biological trace element research

CO

1. Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology : organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements (GMS)

COPPER

1. Biological trace element research

CU

1. Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology : organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements (GMS)

IRON

1. Biological trace element research

MAGNESIUM

1. Biological trace element research

MANGANESE

1. Biological trace element research

Activities

Rotheca myricoides has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimutagenic.

Antimutagenic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Rotheca myricoides has 7 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include COVID-19, HIV, MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2.

Covid-19

1. Scientific reports

Hiv

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Mers-cov

1. Scientific reports

Sars-cov

1. Scientific reports

Sars-cov-2

1. Scientific reports

Diseases

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Immunocompromised patients

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Rotheca myricoides has 8 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include 80 % methanol extracts, RB, aqueous extracts, enzymatic extracts, extracts.

80 % methanol extracts

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Rb

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous extracts

1. Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology : organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements (GMS)

Enzymatic extracts

1. Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology : organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements (GMS)

Extracts

1. African health sciences

Methanol extract

1. African health sciences

Organic and aqueous extracts

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Organic solvent fractions

1. Journal of intercultural ethnopharmacology