Hedge Sageretia

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Hedge Sageretia
• pauper's-tea

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Rhamnus thea

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Sageretia thea, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae, falling within the order Rosales. Finally, it is a member of the family Rhamnaceae and the genus Sageretia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution that spans across two distinct major regions. In Northeast Tropical Africa, its presence is documented in Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia. Moving toward the continent of Asia, the species is also found within the Central Asian territory. Specifically, it inhabits the regions of Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. Consequently, the range of Sageretiia thea connects diverse ecological landscapes from Africa to Central Asia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Sageretia thea is characterized by its preference for rugged, montane environments, specifically flourishing within limestone formations and stony places. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, spanning a significant vertical gradient from a minimum elevation of 500 m AMSL to a maximum of 2700 m AMSL. Across its natural range, it maintains a mean elevation of approximately 2100 m AMSL, positioning it primarily within high-altitude mountain ecosystems where it adapts to the unique substrate and drainage conditions provided by rocky and calcareous terrains.

Elevational range max:

2700 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2100 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

500 m AMSL

Habitat :

limestone, mountains, stony places

Life history

The life history of Sageretia thea is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, meaning it persists through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its life cycle in a single year. As a perennial species, it maintains its vegetative structure over an extended period, allowing it to establish a robust presence within its natural habitat. This long-term survival strategy enables the plant to undergo repeated cycles of growth, flowering, and seed production, contributing to its stability and longevity within its ecological niche.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Sageretia thea is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub. As a terrestrial plant, it does not exhibit aquatic or epiphytic tendencies and functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite. In terms of its structural stature, the plant is self-supporting and does not function as a vine or liana. The dimensions of its physical structure vary, with a plant height that reaches a maximum of 1.5 m, though it maintains a mean height of approximately 3 m in certain developmental contexts.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Sageretia thea is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a metabolic process typical of plants in temperate or moist environments where carbon fixation occurs directly through the Calvin cycle. The morphological dimensions of its foliage play a critical role in its gas exchange and light interception capabilities, with leaves exhibiting a mean length of 2.75 cm and a range spanning from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 4.5 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width shows significant variability, maintaining a mean of 1.6 cm, with measurements ranging from a minimum of 0.7 cm to a maximum of 2.5 cm. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil rather than through symbiotic biological nitrogen fixation.

Leaf length max:

4.5 cm

Leaf length mean:

2.75 cm

Leaf length min:

1 cm

Leaf width max:

2.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

1.6 cm

Leaf width min:

0.7 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Sageretia thea is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering window and delicate inflorescence structures. The plant typically begins its flowering cycle in April and continues through June, though the flowering period can be variable depending on environmental conditions. During this stage, the reproductive organs are organized into inflorescences that are notably small in scale, measuring between a minimum of 0.02 m and a maximum of 0.05 m in length.

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Jun

Inflorescence length max:

0.05 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.02 m

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Sageretia thea has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root.

Leaf

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Root

1. Scientific reports

Chemicals

Sageretia thea has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include BETA-SITOSTEROL, Daucosterol, Friedeline, Gluco-syringic acid, IL-6.

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Daucosterol

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Friedeline

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Gluco-syringic acid

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

IL-6

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

NO

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

SYRINGIC ACID

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Taraxerol

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Conditions

Sageretia thea has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Inflammation, anti-oxidant, fevers, hepatitis.

Inflammation

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Anti-oxidant

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Fevers

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Hepatitis

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Preparations

Sageretia thea has 3 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include branches (ST-B), extracts of leaves (ST-L), water extract of the leaves.

Branches (st-b)

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Extracts of leaves (st-l)

1. The American journal of Chinese medicine

Water extract of the leaves

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR