Spermacoce verticillata
Spermacoce verticillata, commonly known as a vital medicinal herb, belongs to a unique botanical family valued for its therapeutic properties. Renowned in traditional medicine, this plant offers significant bioactive compounds used to treat various ailments. Understanding its biological profile is essential for exploring its potential in modern pharmacological research.
- Scientific name: Spermacoce verticillata
- Family: Rubiaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Gentianaales and the family Rubiaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Spermacoce.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Gentianales | WCVP |
| Family | Rubiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Spermacoce | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, scientifically known as Spermacoce verticillata, is recognized by various regional names across different languages and cultures. In Malay, it is commonly referred to as Basaku, while in French, it is known by several names including borréria verticillé, Borreria verticillata, and faux ipéca. Additionally, in Chinese, it is identified as 轮叶丰花草.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| bm | Basaku | Wikidata |
| fr | borréria verticillé | Wikidata |
| fr | Borreria verticillata | Wikidata |
| fr | faux ipéca | Wikidata |
| zh | 轮叶丰花草 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning across the Macaronesian islands and West Tropical Africa. Within the Macaronesian region, it can be found growing in the Canary Islands and Cape Verde. Its range extends into West Tropical Africa, where it is documented in Benin and Burkina. Additionally, the species is present in the Gambia, further establishing its foothold in the western part of the continent. Consequently, the distribution of Spermacoce verticillata reflects a wide ecological presence across these distinct maritime and terrestrial zones.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Macaronesia | Canary Is. | WCVP |
| Macaronesia | Cape Verde | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Gambia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea-Bissau | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Liberia | WCVP |