Shaggy buttonweed

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Jointed Buttonweed

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Spermacoce lasiocarpa
• Spermacoce longicaulis
• Spermacoce scabra
• Spermacoce avana
• Borreria articularis
• Borreria lasiocarpa
• Spermacoce flexuosa

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Gentianaales. Finally, it is classified within the family Rubiaceae and the genus Spermacoce.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Spermacoce articularis, exhibits a specific geographical range concentrated within the West Tropical Africa region. Its natural habitat spans several key countries, including Senegal and Guinea. The distribution continues southward through Sierra Leone and Liberia. Additionally, the species can be found within the borders of Nigeria. Collectively, these locations define its primary ecological presence across the West African coastline.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Spermacoce articularis 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 habit and survival strategy, the plant is classified as a chamaephyte, meaning its regenerative buds are located close to the soil surface, typically just above the ground level. This specific life form enables the species to endure varying environmental conditions by maintaining its vital structures at a low profile, facilitating its establishment and long-term presence within its ecological niche.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Spermacoce articularis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically functioning as a forb. This plant exhibits a terrestrial habit, meaning it is neither aquatic nor semiaquatic, and it grows as an independent organism rather than acting as a parasite. In terms of its structural development, the species is categorized as a self-supporting plant, lacking the climbing or vining mechanisms of a liana. Furthermore, it is a strictly terrestrial species, showing no epiphytic tendencies such as being a holoepiphyte or hemiepiphyte.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Spermacoce articularis is characterized by a highly versatile dispersal strategy and specific seed physical properties. The plant utilizes an unspecialized dispersal syndrome, employing a multifaceted approach that includes anemochory (wind dispersal), zoochory (animal dispersal), autochory (self-dispersal), and hydrochory (water dispersal) to colonize new habitats. Regarding its reproductive output, the seeds exhibit a very consistent and uniform mass; both the minimum, maximum, and mean seed mass are recorded at exactly 0.00204 g, indicating a lack of significant variation in individual seed weight within the population.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Seed mass mean:

0.00204 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Spermacoce articularis has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.

Antioxidant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Spermacoce articularis has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Methanol extracts.

Methanol extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology