Rotula aquatica

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sources: Wikidata

Distribution

This plant is geographically distributed across several nations within the West Tropical Africa region. It can be found growing in the country of Benin. Additionally, its range extends into Burkina Faso. The species is also documented in Ghana and Guinea-Bissau. Finally, its presence is noted within the borders of Guinea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Rotula aquatica is characterized by its specialized presence in distinct environmental niches, primarily occurring within the Campo de Várzea and in vegetation associated with rocky outcrops (Vegetação Sobre Afloramentos Rochosos). In the Campo de Várzea, the species thrives in these seasonally flooded or lowland grassland ecosystems, where it must adapt to fluctuating water tables and specific soil moisture regimes. Simultaneously, its occurrence in rocky outcrop vegetation indicates an ability to colonize lithic environments, where it likely manages restricted soil availability and higher exposure to solar radiation. This dual habitat preference suggests a versatile ecological strategy that allows the species to persist in both hydromorphic lowland settings and more xeric, structurally complex rocky microhabitats.

Habitat :

Campo de Várzea, Vegetação Sobre Afloramentos Rochosos

Life history

The life history of Rotula aquatica is characterized by a growth strategy primarily categorized under the life form of phanerophyte, specifically exhibiting characteristics of a nanophanerophyte. Its developmental cycle and structural adaptation to its environment are defined by these specific life form classifications, where the plant maintains its buds well above the ground level or substrate surface. This phanerophyte designation, alongside its classification as a phanerophyte in broader life form frameworks, dictates its seasonal survival mechanisms and its ability to persist through varying environmental conditions within its natural habitat.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Rotula aquatica is characterized by a woody growth form that primarily presents as a shrub. It exhibits a self-supporting structure and does not function as a climber or a parasite, maintaining an independent existence within its ecosystem. The plant displays a versatile habitat range, categorized as aquatic, semiaquatic, or terrestrial, and it is classified as a terrestrial species rather than an epiphyte. In terms of stature, the plant reaches a minimum height of approximately 0.91 meters and can grow up to a maximum height of approximately 1.83 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.828822238 m

Plant height min:

0.914411119 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiological morphology of Rotula aquaticus is characterized by highly specialized leaf dimensions that reflect its adaptive growth patterns. The foliage exhibits significant variability in size, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.05 cm to a maximum of 0.25 cm, maintaining an average leaf length of 0.15 cm. Complementing this longitudinal dimension, the leaf width demonstrates a broad physiological range, spanning from a minimum of 0.2 cm to a maximum of 1 cm, which results in a calculated mean leaf width of 0.6 cm. These specific micro-morphological traits indicate a highly compact leaf structure, where the variance between minimum and maximum dimensions suggests a dynamic response to its immediate environmental conditions.

Leaf length max:

0.25 cm

Leaf length mean:

0.15 cm

Leaf length min:

0.05 cm

Leaf width max:

1 cm

Leaf width mean:

0.6 cm

Leaf width min:

0.2 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Rotula aquatica is characterized by the production of seeds that exhibit a highly consistent physical profile. Based on empirical data, the seed mass for this species is remarkably uniform, with a mean seed mass of 0.00378 g. This consistency is reflected in the recorded maximum and minimum values, which both remain at exactly 0.00378 g, indicating a lack of variance in the weight of the individual seeds produced during the reproductive cycle.

Seed mass mean:

0.00378 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Rotula aquatica 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. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine

Conditions

Rotula aquatica has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include inflammation.

Inflammation

1. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine

Preparations

Rotula aquatica has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethyl acetate fraction from Rotula aquatica.

Ethyl acetate fraction from rotula aquatica

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie