Cayenne snakeweed

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Cayenne snakeweed
• blue snakeweed
• bluetop
• dark-blue snakeweed
• nettle-leaf porterweed
• rattail
• rough-leaf false vervain
• snakeweed

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Zappania cayennensis
• Abena cayennensis
• Valerianoides dichotoma
• Zappania dichotoma
• Stachytarpheta gibberosa
• Stachytarpheta laevis
• Stachytarpheta polyura
• Verbena dichotoma
• Ubochea dichotoma
• Lippia cylindrica
• Valerianoides cayennensis
• Stachytarpheta canescens var. bahiensis
• Stachytarpheta australis
• Stachytarpheta australis f. albiflora
• Verbena cayennensis
• Stachytarpheta australis var. neocaledonica
• Stachytarpheta cayennensis f. albiflora
• Stachytarpheta cayennensis var. candicans
• Stachytarpheta cayennensis f. purpurea
• Stachytarpheta cayennensis var. virescens
• Stachytarpheta canescens var. morii
• Stachytarpheta hirta
• Stachytarpheta lactea
• Stachytarpheta dichotoma
• Stachytarpheta dichotoma f. albiflora
• Stachytarpheta dichotoma var. neocaledonica
• Stachytarpheta maximiliani
• Stachytarpheta fallax
• Stachytarpheta guatemalensis
• Stachytarpheta guatemalensis f. albiflora
• Stachytarpheta umbrosa
• Stachytarpheta veronicifolia
• Stachytarpheta tabascana
• Stachytarpheta theezans
• Stachytarpheta subulata
• Stachytarpheta restingensis var. hispidula
• Stachytarpheta scaberrima var. pilosa
• Stachytarpheta maximiliani var. ciliaris
• Stachytarpheta maximiliani var. glabrata
• Stachytarpheta polyura f. albiflora
• Stachytarpheta patens

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Lamiales and the family Verbenaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Stachytarpheta.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across several regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is documented in Benin, Ivory Coast, Liberia, and Togo. Furthermore, its range extends into the West-Central Tropical Africa region. Specifically, it can be found growing within the Central African Republic. Together, these locations define the known geographical footprint of Stachytarpheta cayennensis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Stachytarpheta cayennensis is characterized by a highly versatile distribution across diverse Brazilian biomes and varied topographical settings. This species demonstrates significant adaptability, occupying a wide range of habitats including Áreas Antrópicas, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Campo de Altitude, Campo Rupestre, Carrasco, Cerrado (latu sensu), Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta de Terra Firmre, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (Floresta Pluvial), and Restinga. Such breadth in habitat preference allows it to thrive in environments ranging from coastal restingas and riparian forests to the more arid conditions of the Caatinga and the specialized ecosystems of high-altitude fields. This ecological plasticity is further reflected in its broad altitudinal tolerance, as the plant can be found at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends its range up to an elevation of 1800 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Campo de Altitude, Campo Rupestre, Carrasco, Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta de Terra Firme, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Restinga

Life history

The life history of Stachytarpheta cayennensis is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle in a single year. In terms of its growth habit and ecological strategy, the species exhibits diverse life form classifications, functioning as a therophyte which completes its seasonal development through a specialized dormant stage. Additionally, it can be categorized as a chamaephyte, indicating a growth form where the permanent buds are located close to the soil surface, providing a specific structural adaptation to its environmental niche.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Stachytarpheta cayennensis is characterized by a growth form that transitions between a herb and a shrub, exhibiting a non-woody structure. This terrestrial plant grows in a self-supporting manner without the need for climbing or liana-like behavior, maintaining an erect shoot orientation. In terms of stature, it typically reaches an average height of 1 m, though individual specimens can vary significantly, ranging from a minimum height of 0.5 m to a maximum of 2.5 m. As an independent organism, it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2.5 m

Plant height mean:

1 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Stachytarpheta cayennensis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation efficiency. The foliage exhibits significant morphological variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 8 cm, while leaf widths fluctuate between 1 cm and 4.5 cm. Furthermore, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on external soil nutrient availability rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria to fulfill its nitrogen requirements.

Leaf length max:

8 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf width max:

4.5 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Stachytarpheta cayennensis is characterized by a specific flowering phenology and the production of distinct floral and fruit structures. The plant enters its flowering stage in November, though the timing can be variable throughout the year. The inflorescence is relatively compact, measuring between 0.14 m and 0.4 m in length, and features flowers that are green in colour. Following pollination, the plant develops small fruits that range in length from 0.5 cm to a maximum of 0.6 cm, with a width varying between 0.15 cm and 0.17 cm. The reproductive cycle concludes with the production of seeds, which are characterized by a length of 3 mm to 3.5 mm and a width ranging from 1 mm to 1.2 mm.

Flower colour :

green

Flowering time :

Nov

Fruit length max:

0.6 cm

Fruit length min:

0.5 cm

Fruit width max:

0.17 cm

Fruit width min:

0.15 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.4 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.14 m

Seed length max:

3.5 mm

Seed length min:

3 mm

Seed width max:

1.2 mm

Seed width min:

1 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Stachytarpheta cayennensis has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Acteoside, Amines, Citral, EO, Flavonoids.

Acteoside

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Amines

1. Planta medica

Citral

1. Dr. Duke

EO

1. Dr. Duke

Flavonoids

1. Planta medica

GERANIOL

1. Dr. Duke

Ipolamiide

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Verbascoside

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

isoverbascoside

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

salicylic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Stachytarpheta cayennensis has 92 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiinflammatory, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor, Allergenic, Analgesic, Anthelmintic.

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiallergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiallergic

1. Dr. Duke

Antianaphylactic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiarthritic

1. Dr. Duke

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Stachytarpheta cayennensis has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include helminthiasis, ulcers.

Helminthiasis

1. Experimental parasitology

Ulcers

1. Planta medica

Preparations

Stachytarpheta cayennensis has 5 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Aqueous extracts, aqueous extract, dried leaves, freeze-dried aqueous extract, semipurified fractions.

Aqueous extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous extract

1. Planta medica

Dried leaves

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Freeze-dried aqueous extract

1. Planta medica

Semipurified fractions

1. Planta medica