Spermacoce princeae

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Diodia stipulosa
• Spermacoce princeae var. mwinilungae
• Spermacoce princeae var. pubescens
• Borreria princeae
• Borreria princeae var. pubescens

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Gentianaales and the family Rubiaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is completed by its classification within the genus Spermacoce.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad presence across several regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its range extends through the countries of Benin, Nigeria, and Togo. Moving into West-Central Tropical Africa, the species can also be located within Cameroon. Additionally, the plant's distribution reaches further into the East-Central region as it is found in Burundi. Collectively, these locations highlight a significant tropical distribution for Spermacoce princeae.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Spermacoce princeae is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth and survival strategy, the species is classified as a chamaephyte, a life form defined by having its perennating buds located close to the soil surface. This chamamephyte status ensures its resilience within its specific ecological niche, maintaining its presence across successive years.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Spermacoce princeae is characterized by a growth form classified as a subshrub or herb, exhibiting a non-woody structure. This species is a terrestrial plant that grows independently, rather than acting as a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of its physical stature, it is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber, with a plant height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 1.5 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 0.531 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

subshrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.531004633 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Spermacoce princeae is characterized by a diverse range of dispersal mechanisms that ensure its propagation across various environments. The plant exhibits an autochorous dispersal syndrome, which is further categorized through multiple specialized and non-specialized modes. Specifically, its dispersal strategies encompass anemochorous, zoochorous, autochorous, and hydrochorous methods, as well as unspecialized patterns. This complex reproductive profile is expanded by additional dispersal syndromes including anthropochorous, endozoochorous, epizoochorous, and myrmecocorous vectors, indicating a highly adaptable approach to seed and propagule distribution.

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Spermacoce princeae has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant.

Antibacterial

1. Tropical medicine and health

Antioxidant

1. Tropical medicine and health

Preparations

Spermacoce princeae has 5 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include dichloromethane extract, distilled water extract, ethyl acetate extract, hexane extract, methanol extract.

Dichloromethane extract

1. Tropical medicine and health

Distilled water extract

1. Tropical medicine and health

Ethyl acetate extract

1. Tropical medicine and health

Hexane extract

1. Tropical medicine and health

Methanol extract

1. Tropical medicine and health