Latok

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Latok

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Telosma filipes
• Pergularia glandulosa
• Pergularia filipes
• Pergularia procumbens
• Telosma cathayensis

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Gentianales, falling within the family Apocynaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement in the genus Telosma.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several key regions in Asia. Within China, it is widely documented in the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan areas. Its presence extends into the Indian Subcontinent, specifically within the state of Assam. Furthermore, the species can be found throughout the Indo-China region, including Vietnam. These various locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in different subtropical environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Morphology

The morphology of Telosma procumbens is characterized by its vigorous growth habit as an obligatory climber, utilizing specialized structures to ascend surrounding vegetation or supports. The plant exhibits a significant vertical reach, with a documented mean plant height of approximately 4 meters. As a climbing species, its structural development is dependent on external stabilization to support its sprawling, leafy canopy.

Climber :

obligatory

Plant height mean:

4 m

Physiology

The physiology of Telosma procumbens is characterized by specific morphological dimensions of its foliage and its metabolic relationship with soil nutrients. The leaves exhibit a variable size range, with a mean leaf length of 10.5 cm, though individual measurements fluctuate between a minimum of 8 cm and a maximum of 13 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width ranges from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 8 cm, contributing to the overall photosynthetic surface area of the plant. Regarding its nutrient acquisition processes, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil through its root system rather than establishing a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen.

Leaf length max:

13 cm

Leaf length mean:

10.5 cm

Leaf length min:

8 cm

Leaf width max:

8 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Telosma procumbens culminates in the development of distinct fruits that exhibit highly consistent morphological dimensions. The fruit characteristics are characterized by a uniform profile, where the length remains constant at a mean of 10 cm, with both the minimum and maximum recorded values also staying at 10 cm. Similarly, the width of the fruit shows no variation, maintaining a consistent measurement across all observed specimens; the minimum, mean, and maximum widths are all recorded at 2 cm. This lack of variance in both fruit length and width suggests a highly stabilized reproductive output for the species.

Fruit length max:

10 cm

Fruit width max:

2 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Telosma procumbens has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Telosmoside A15.

Telosmoside A15

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin