damiana

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Mexican-holly

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Bohadschia humifusa
• Bohadschia microphylla
• Turnera aphrodisiaca
• Turnera humifusa
• Triacis microphylla
• Turnera pringlei
• Turnera diffusa var. aphrodisiaca
• Turnera microphylla

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Turnera diffusa, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Malpighiales and the family Passifloraceae. It is further categorized under the genus Turnera.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical presence across specific regions of North America. Within the South-Central United States, its distribution is notably centered in the state of Texas. The species is also extensively found throughout various parts of Mexico. Specifically, it inhabits the central, northeastern, and northwestern territories of the country. Additionally, the plant can be located along the Gulf region of Mexico.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Turnera diffusa is characterized by a remarkable adaptability to diverse environmental conditions and a broad altitudinal distribution. This species can be found across a wide elevational gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 1000 m AMSL. Its habitat preferences are highly varied, allowing it to thrive in multiple distinct ecosystems and landscape types. It is commonly documented in anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), the Caatinga (strict sensu), high-altitude grasslands (Campo de Altitude), and rocky field formations (Campo Rupestre). Furthermore, it occupies specialized niches such as Carrasco, the Cerrado (lato sensu), riparian forests or gallery forests (Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria), and seasonal semi-deciduous forests (Floresta Estacional Semi-decidual), as well as vegetation growing over rocky outcrops (Vegetação Sobre Afloramentos Rochosos).

Elevational range max:

1000 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 Estacional Semidecidual, Vegetação Sobre Afloramentos Rochosos

Life history

The life history of Turnera diffusa is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. Throughout its developmental stages, the plant exhibits deciduousness, shedding its foliage in response to seasonal environmental changes or specific climatic cycles.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Turnera diffusa is characterized by a woody growth form, typically manifesting as a shrub. This plant reaches a mean height of approximately 1 meter and functions as a self-supporting organism rather than an obligatory or facultative climber. It is strictly a terrestrial species, lacking aquatic or epiphytic tendencies, and maintains an independent life cycle without acting as a parasite.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Turnera diffusa is characterized by its metabolic processes and nutrient acquisition strategies within its native tropical and subtropical habitats. As a member of the Passifloraceae family, its physiological framework involves complex photosynthetic pathways and specialized water-use efficiency to thrive in varying environmental conditions. Regarding its nutritional ecology, the plant does not engage in symbiotic relationships with diazotrophic bacteria to convert atmospheric gases into organic compounds; specifically, it is not a nitrogen fixer. Therefore, its nitrogen assimilation relies entirely on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium ions from the soil through its root system via active transport mechanisms. This reliance on soil-available nitrogen dictates its growth patterns and its dependency on the nutrient cycling of its surrounding ecosystem.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Turnera diffusa has 69 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, arbutin, caffeine, DELTA-CADINENE, Flavonoid.

Flavonoids

1. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences
2. Journal of natural products
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

arbutin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

caffeine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

DELTA-CADINENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Fitoterapia

Flavonoid

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Fish & shellfish immunology

1,8-Cineol

1. Fitoterapia

1,8-Cineole

1. Dr. Duke

ALPHA-PINENE

1. Dr. Duke

ALUMINUM

1. Dr. Duke

Antioxidants

1. Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine

Activities

Turnera diffusa has 463 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Aphrodisiac, Diuretic, Estrogenic, Gastroprotective, Hepatoprotective.

Aphrodisiac

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Fitoterapia
3. Fish & shellfish immunology

Diuretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Fish & shellfish immunology

Estrogenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Gastroprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

(+)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Chronotropic

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AP-1-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Turnera diffusa has 16 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include aphrodisiac, Parkinson's disease, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, anxiety, diabetes mellitus.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations