Blue Fountain Bush

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Blue Fountain Bush

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Clerodendrum farinosum
• Clerodendrum serratum
• Clerodendrum serratum var. herbaceum
• Cyclonema serratum
• Rotheca vanprukii
• Clerodendrum serratum var. pubescens
• Clerodendrum hexangulare
• Clerodendrum serratum var. glabrescens
• Clerodendrum serratum var. velutinum
• Clerodendrum serratum var. amplexifolium
• Clerodendrum serratum var. wallichii
• Volkameria farinosa
• Rotheca ternifolia
• Clerodendrum trifoliatum
• Clerodendrum vanprukii
• Clerodendrum serratum f. lacteum
• Clerodendrum serratum var. obovatum
• Clerodendrum serratum var. pilosum
• Clerodendrum cuneatum
• Clerodendrum divaricatum
• Clerodendrum grandifolium
• Clerodendrum herbaceum
• Clerodendrum bracteosum
• Clerodendrum venosum var. pubescens
• Volkameria serrata
• Clerodendrum farinosum var. pubescens
• Rotheca farinosa
• Clerodendrum serratum var. javanicum
• Rotheca bicolor
• Ovieda bracteosa
• Rotheca hexangularis
• Rotheca serrata var. pubescens

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Lamiales, falling within the family Lamiaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by its genus, Rotheca, as part of the species Rotheca serrata.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range spanning across several distinct regions. In the Western Indian Ocean, it can be found growing in the Seychelles. Its presence in China is widespread, covering the South-Central, Southeast, and even the high-altitude regions of Tibet. Additionally, the species is distributed across the Indian Subcontinent, specifically within Assam. Together, these locations highlight the broad environmental adaptability of the species.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Rotheca serrata is characterized by its ability to inhabit diverse montane and sub-montane environments, spanning a significant altitudinal gradient. This species is typically found distributed across a wide elevational range, beginning at lower altitudes of approximately 300 m AMSL and ascending to higher elevations reaching up to a maximum of 1900 m AMSL. This broad vertical distribution suggests an adaptability to varying temperature regimes, moisture levels, and atmospheric pressures encountered as one moves from lowland habitats toward higher montane zones.

Elevational range max:

1900 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

300 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Rotheca serrata is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist across multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth habits and life forms, it exhibits a dual classification within botanical frameworks, functioning as both a phanerophyte and a nanophanerophyte. This indicates that while it possesses visible stem structures that can extend above the ground, its primary growth habit is concentrated in a manner where the stems remain relatively short, typically staying close to the substrate.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Rotheca serrata is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically manifesting as a shrub. It reaches an average plant height of approximately 4 m and functions as a self-supporting structure, rather than acting as an obligatory or facultative climber. The plant is strictly terrestrial in its ecological positioning, exhibiting neither aquatic nor semiaquatic tendencies, and it does not function as an epiphyte. Furthermore, it maintains an independent life cycle, characterized by an absence of parasitic behavior.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

4 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Rotheca serrata is characterized by its specific metabolic and nutritional processes. The plant utilizes a C3 photosynthetic pathway, meaning it fixes carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle using the enzyme RuBisCO, which is typical for most temperate and tropical woody species. Regarding its nutrient acquisition, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on the uptake of available nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system rather than establishing symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Rotheca serrata is driven by biotic pollination syndromes, relying on living organisms to facilitate the transfer of pollen between flowers. This reproductive process is characterized by a primary reliance on insect pollination, which serves as a fundamental mechanism for genetic exchange. Specifically, the plant utilizes a diverse array of insect vectors, including bees, beetles, ants, butterflies, moths, and flies, to ensure successful fertilization. This multifaceted approach to biotic pollination allows the plant to leverage various insect interactions to optimize its reproductive success within its ecological niche.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Rotheca serrata has 2 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Microbial pathogenesis
3. Heliyon
4. Journal of cancer research and therapeutics

Root

1. Journal of cancer research and therapeutics

Chemicals

Rotheca serrata has 19 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Hispidulin, Ursolic acid, 9,12,15-Octadecatrien-1-ol, Acteoside, Apigenin 7-glucoside.

Hispidulin

1. Microbial pathogenesis
2. Molecular bioSystems

Ursolic acid

1. Frontiers in pharmacology
2. Natural product research

9,12,15-Octadecatrien-1-ol

1. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology

Acteoside

1. Molecular bioSystems

Apigenin 7-glucoside

1. Molecular bioSystems

Cardiac Glycosides

1. Drug and chemical toxicology

Flavonoid

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Flavonoids

1. Drug and chemical toxicology

Oleamide

1. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology

Pectolinarigenin

1. Microbial pathogenesis

Activities

Rotheca serrata has 6 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective, Antimalarial, Antiplasmodial.

Anticancer

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Journal of cancer research and therapeutics

Antioxidant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Journal of cancer research and therapeutics

Hepatoprotective

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Journal of cancer research and therapeutics

Antimalarial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antiplasmodial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antitussive

1. Journal of cancer research and therapeutics

Conditions

Rotheca serrata has 8 reported investigations on conditions identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, fever, hemorrhoids, inflammation.

Candida albicans

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Staphylococcus aureus

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Fever

1. Natural product research

Hemorrhoids

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Inflammation

1. Natural product research

Malaria

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Pain

1. Natural product research

Rheumatism

1. Natural product research

Preparations

Rotheca serrata has 12 reported preparations identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aqueous extract, Ethanolic and methanolic extracts, Partially Purified Phytoconstituents, RsEA, RsEA fraction.

Aqueous extract

1. Drug and chemical toxicology
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Ethanolic and methanolic extracts

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Partially purified phytoconstituents

1. Drug and chemical toxicology

Rsea

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Rsea fraction

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Rshex

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Rshex fraction

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Rsmeoh crude extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Rsmeoh crude leaf extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous ethanolic extract cocktail

1. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine