Yellow Alder

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Ramgoat Dashalong
• Yellow Alder
• West Indian-holly
• sage-rose
• yellow-alder
• Sage Rose

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

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. It is further organized into the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Malpighiales, falling under the family Passifloraceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Turnera, specifically as the species Turnera ulmiifolia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across several distinct oceanic regions. Within the Macaronesian islands, it can be found specifically on the Canary Islands. Its presence extends significantly into the Western Indian Ocean, where it inhabits the Aldabra atoll. Furthermore, the species is documented in the Chagos Archipelago and the Comoros. Finally, its geographical range includes the island of Mauritius, marking its presence in the Western Indian Ocean.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Turnera ulmiifolia is characterized by its preference for low-to-mid altitude environments, primarily occupying habitats starting from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1000 m AMSL. The species demonstrates a strong tendency toward lowland ecosystems, as evidenced by a mean elevational range of approximately 100 m AMSL. This distribution pattern suggests that the plant thrives best in warmer, tropical or subtropical lowland zones, where it occupies specific ecological niches within these altitudinal gradients.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

100 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Turnera ulmifolia is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle in a single year. Throughout its lifespan, the species maintains an evergreen habit, ensuring that it retains its foliage year-round rather than shedding leaves seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Turnera ulmiifolia is characterized by a growth form that ranges from a herb to a shrub, exhibiting a non-woody structure. This plant is a terrestrial species that grows independently, meaning it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of stature, it is a self-supporting plant, rather than a vine or liana, with a height that typically varies between a minimum of 0.4 m and a maximum of 1.5 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 0.8 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.8 m

Plant height min:

0.4 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Turnera ulmiifolia is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation efficiency. The plant's vegetative structure features elliptic-shaped leaves that play a critical role in light interception and gas exchange. These leaves typically reach a maximum length of 2 cm and maintain a maximum width of 0.5 cm. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on external soil nutrients rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria to meet its nitrogen requirements for growth and protein synthesis.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

2 cm

Leaf width max:

0.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Turnera ulmiifolia is characterized by a seasonal flowering period that typically commences in May and concludes in August. During this stage, the plant produces flowers that are yellow in color and can reach a maximum width of 6 cm. Following pollination, the plant develops fleshy fruit in the form of a capsule. These capsules are relatively small, ranging in length from a minimum of 0.6 cm to a maximum of 0.8 cm. The fruit is dehiscence-type, meaning it is dehiscent, facilitating the release of its seeds. The seeds produced are quite minute, with a length varying between 2 mm and 3 mm and a consistent seed volume of 9.2 mm³. In terms of mass, the seeds are extremely light, with a mean mass of 0.000875 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.00087 g to a maximum of 0.00088 g. Dispersal of these seeds follows a zoochorous syndrome, relying on animals to aid in their distribution throughout the environment.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Flower colour :

yellow

Flower width max:

6 cm

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

0.8 cm

Fruit length min:

0.6 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Seed length max:

3 mm

Seed length min:

2 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00088 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000875 g

Seed mass min:

0.00087 g

Seed volume max:

9.2 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Turnera ulmifolia has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids.

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Turnera ulmifolia has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Candidiasis, edema.

Candidiasis

1. Journal of medicinal food

Edema

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Turnera ulmifolia has 5 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aqueous fraction, crude hydroalcoholic extract of the aerial parts, ethanolic fraction, ethyl acetate fraction, hydroalcoholic extract.

Aqueous fraction

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Crude hydroalcoholic extract of the aerial parts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ethanolic fraction

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ethyl acetate fraction

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hydroalcoholic extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology