Trigonochloa uniflora

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Rabdochloa uniflora
• Craspedorhachis uniflora
• Leptochloa uniflora
• Craspedorhachis menyharthii
• Cynodon gracilis
• Leptochloa laurentii

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Poales, it is classified under the family Poaceae. Specifically, its taxonomic designation is placed within the genus Trigonochloa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across several regions of the African continent. Within West Tropical Africa, it can be found growing in Benin, Ghana, and Nigeria. Its range also extends into the West-Central Tropical Africa region. Specifically, it is documented to occur in both the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Consequently, its natural habitat is primarily centered in these tropical African territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Trigonochloa uniflora is characterized by its distribution across a specific altitudinal gradient, occupying habitats that begin at low-lying areas and extend toward mid-elevation zones. This species is typically found within an elevational range starting from a minimum of 75 m AMSL and reaching a maximum elevation of 500 m AMSL. Within this specific vertical niche, the plant's presence is dictated by the environmental variables inherent to these lowland to sub-montane transitions, where moisture availability and soil composition at these specific altitudes support its growth patterns and medicinal potency.

Elevational range max:

500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

75 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Trigonochloa uniflora is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire developmental process from germination to seed production within a single growing season. In terms of its ecological structure and growth habit, it is classified as a therophyte, a life form defined by plants that survive unfavorable seasons as ephemeral seeds, avoiding harsh conditions by remaining dormant until favorable environmental triggers occur. This classification is consistent across its botanical descriptions, identifying it specifically as a therophyte under both life form categorizations.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Trigonochloa uniflora is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody, graminoid herb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber or a parasite, maintaining an independent existence. The species is terrestrial in its habitat, lacking aquatic or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits a relatively low profile, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 0.61 m, while maintaining an average plant height of approximately 1 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

graminoid

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.61 m

Plant height mean:

1 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Trigonochloa uniflora is fundamentally characterized by its specialized carbon fixation mechanism, specifically employing the C4 photosynthetic pathway. Unlike C3 plants, this species utilizes a spatially separated process to concentrate carbon dioxide around the enzyme Rubisco, which significantly enhances its photosynthetic efficiency. By utilizing bundle sheath cells to perform the Calvin cycle and mesophyll cells for initial carbon fixation via PEP carboxylase, the plant effectively minimizes photorespiration. This physiological adaptation allows Trigonochloa uniflora to maintain high rates of carbon assimilation even under conditions of high light intensity, elevated temperatures, and limited water availability, providing a distinct competitive advantage in its ecological niche.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C4

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Trigonochloa uniflora has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CHLOROFORM, PETROLEUM ETHER, acetone, methanol.

CHLOROFORM

1. Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases

PETROLEUM ETHER

1. Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases

acetone

1. Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases

methanol

1. Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases