Goatweed

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Sweet Broom
• scoparia-weed
• sweet-broom
• Licorice Weed
• Sweet Broomwort
• goatweed
• scoparia weed

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ambulia micrantha
• Capraria dulcis
• Capraria dulcis var. albiflora
• Capraria dulcis var. coerulea
• Scoparia purpurea
• Scoparia procumbens
• Gratiola micrantha
• Scoparia ternata
• Scoparia gypsophyloides
• Scoparia fruticosa
• Scoparia grandiflora
• Scoparia dulcis var. australiensis
• Scoparia dulcis var. tenuifolia
• Scoparia dulcis var. abrahamii

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Lamiales and the family Plantaginaceae, it is classified under the genus Scoparia. Specifically, it is known as Scoparia dulcis, a member of this distinct taxonomic lineage.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across multiple continents and climate zones. In Middle Europe, its presence is documented within the regions of Czechia and Slovakia. Moving toward the tropical belt, the species is widely found throughout West Tropical Africa. Specific occurrences have been recorded in the nations of Benin, Burkina, and Gambia. Furthermore, its distribution extends into the West Tropical African territory of Ghana.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Scoparia dulcis is characterized by its remarkable adaptability across a vast array of environmental conditions and diverse ecosystems. It exhibits an expansive altitudinal distribution, thriving at elevations ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum of 2000 m AMSL. This versatility allows the species to colonize a wide spectrum of habitats, ranging from anthropized areas (Área Antrópica) to highly specialized natural formations. Its ecological presence is noted in diverse biomes and vegetation types, including the Caatinga (stricto sensu), Campinarana, Campo de Altitude, Campo de Várzea, Campo Limpo, and Campo Rupestre. Furthermore, it is found within the Carrasco, Cerrado (latos sensu), and various forest types such as Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta de Igapó, Floresta de Terra Firme, Floresta de Várzea, and Floresta Es, demonstrating a significant capacity to inhabit both seasonally flooded and terrestrial forest environments.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Campinarana, Campo de Altitude, Campo de Várzea, Campo Limpo, Campo Rupestre, Carrasco, Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta de Igapó, Floresta de Terra Firme, Floresta de Várzea, Floresta Es

Life history

The life history of Scoparia dulcis is characterized by a versatile growth strategy, primarily functioning as a perennial plant with a lifecycle that can exhibit variable tendencies, including annual or biennial phases depending on environmental conditions. In terms of its structural life form, it is classified as a therophyte, meaning it completes its life cycle through seeds that allow it to persist through unfavorable periods. This lifecycle pattern enables the species to colonize diverse habitats effectively, utilizing its perennial nature to maintain a presence in the ecosystem while remaining capable of rapid regeneration.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Scoparia dulcis is characterized by a growth form that transitions between a herb and a subshrub, maintaining a non-woody structure throughout its development. As a self-supporting plant, it does not function as a climber or a liana, nor does it exhibit parasitic behavior, growing instead as an independent organism. The plant is strictly terrestrial, lacking any epiphytic or aquatic tendencies. In terms of stature, it is a relatively small plant with a height ranging from 0 to 1 meter, reaching an average height of approximately 0.8 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

subshrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.8 m

Plant height min:

0 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiological profile of Scoparia dulcis is characterized by specific morphological dimensions and nutritional strategies, particularly regarding its foliage and metabolic processes. The leaves exhibit significant variability in size, with a mean leaf length of 3.5 cm, ranging from a minimum of 0.2 cm to a maximum of 0.36 cm in specific developmental stages, while the width demonstrates a mean of 1.5 cm, spanning a minimum of 0.75 cm and reaching a maximum of 1.5 cm. In terms of nutrient acquisition and nitrogen cycling, 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 atmospheric nitrogen fixation.

Leaf length max:

0.36 cm

Leaf length mean:

3.5 cm

Leaf length min:

0.2 cm

Leaf width mean:

1.5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.75 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Scoparia dulcis is characterized by a highly flexible flowering period that can occur throughout the year, with significant activity noted starting around March and continuing through various months. The plant produces fruit in the form of a capsule, which contains very small seeds with a consistent mass of approximately 1e-05 g. These fruits are diminutive in size, typically measuring an average of 0.25 cm in both length and width, though they can range from a minimum of 0.2 cm to a maximum of 0.3 cm in both dimensions. Following maturation, the plant utilizes a hydrochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on water to transport its seeds to new locations.

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Flowering time :

Mar

Fruit length max:

0.3 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.25 cm

Fruit length min:

0.2 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

0.3 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.25 cm

Fruit width min:

0.2 cm

Seed mass mean:

1e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Scoparia dulcis has 2 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root.

Leaf

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. International journal of environmental health research
3. Preventive veterinary medicine

Root

1. International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology

Chemicals

Scoparia dulcis has 42 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Scopadulcic acid B, Flavonoids, Scopadulcic acid A, Scoparic acid A, Scoparic acid B.

Scopadulcic acid B

1. Journal of natural products
2. Plant cell reports
3. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
4. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan

Flavonoids

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Scopadulcic acid A

1. Journal of natural products
2. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan

Scoparic acid A

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
2. Journal of natural products

Scoparic acid B

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
2. Journal of natural products

Scoparic acid C

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
2. Journal of natural products

scopadiol

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
2. Journal of natural products

3-Indoleacetic acid

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine

3-Indolebutyric acid

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical biomedicine

3beta-hydroxyurs-11-en-28,13beta-olide

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan

Activities

Scoparia dulcis has 29 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Analgesic, Anthelmintic, AntiHIV, Antibacterial.

Antioxidant

1. Applied nanoscience
2. International journal of environmental health research
3. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Analgesic

1. Die Pharmazie

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antidiabetic

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Antiedemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Scoparia dulcis has 25 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include malaria, Alzheimer's disease, Analgesic, HSV-1, Plasmodium falciparum.

Malaria

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Journal of natural products

Alzheimer's disease

1. American journal of neurodegenerative disease

Analgesic

1. Die Pharmazie

Hsv-1

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Plasmodium falciparum

1. Journal of natural products

Shigella flexneri

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Sickle cell disorders

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Anxiety

1. ACS omega

Asthma

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Bone resorption

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan

Preparations

Scoparia dulcis has 17 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include methanol extracts, 70% EtOH extract, Commercially produced Scoparia dulcis porridge, Fresh Scoparia dulcis porridge, MECS hard capsules.

Methanol extracts

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences
2. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan

70% etoh extract

1. Journal of natural products

Commercially produced scoparia dulcis porridge

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Fresh scoparia dulcis porridge

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Mecs hard capsules

1. ACS omega

Methanolic extracts

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Aqueous

1. International journal of environmental health research

Aqueous extract

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Aqueous extracts

1. Toxicology reports

Crude extracts

1. Journal of natural products