glory bower

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• glory bower
• scrambling clerodendrum

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Clerodendrum buxifolium
• Clerodendrum commersonii
• Clerodendrum inerme
• Clerodendrum inerme var. macrocarpum
• Clerodendrum neriifolium
• Ovieda inermis
• Clerodendrum javanicum
• Vitex pinnata f. anomala
• Volkameria neriifolia
• Catesbaea javanica
• Volkameria commersonii
• Clerodendrum neriifolium var. macrocarpum
• Clerodendrum coromandelianum
• Clerodendrum emarginatum
• Clerodendrum inerme f. parvifolium
• Clerodendrum capsulare
• Clerodendrum inerme var. oceanicum
• Clerodendrum inerme var. neriifolium
• Ovieda ovalifolia
• Volkameria buxifolia

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. Following its placement in the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Lamiales, it is further categorized into the family Lamiaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Volkameria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range that spans across multiple continents and climatic zones. In Northern Africa, its presence is documented within the territories of Libya and Tunisia. Moving toward the tropical regions, it can also be found in West-Central Tropical Africa, specifically in Gabon. Its distribution extends into Eastern Asia, where it is native to Japan. Finally, the species reaches into China, specifically inhabiting the Southeast region of the country.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Volkameria inermis is fundamentally shaped by its adaptation to saline and maritime-influenced environments, specifically within beach forests and coastal deciduous forests. Thriving in these transitional zones, the species is specialized to withstand the unique stressors of coastal ecosystems, including high salt spray, sandy or well-drained soils, and periodic exposure to wind. In the beach forest context, it plays a role in stabilizing coastal substrates, while its presence in coastal deciduous forests indicates an ability to tolerate seasonal shifts in moisture availability characteristic of those biomes. This distribution pattern highlights its ecological niche as a resilient woody component of littoral vegetation, bridging the gap between strictly marine-influenced zones and more sheltered inland deciduous woodlands.

Habitat :

beach forest, coastal deciduous forest

Life history

The life history of Volkameria inermis is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over many growing seasons. Throughout its lifespan, the plant maintains an evergreen habit, retaining its foliage year-round rather than undergoing a seasonal shedding process. This combination of a long-lived lifecycle and continuous leaf presence enables the plant to maintain consistent photosynthetic activity and structural stability within its native habitat.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Volkameria inermis is characterized by a woody growth form, primarily manifesting as a shrub. This plant is a self-supporting species that does not function as a climber or a liana, and it grows as an independent organism rather than a parasite. It is strictly a terrestrial plant, lacking any aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variation in height, with its size ranging from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of 6 meters, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 2.5 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

6 m

Plant height mean:

2.5 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Volkameria inermis is characterized by specific morphological adaptations in its foliage and a distinct metabolic profile. The leaves exhibit a variable size range, with lengths spanning from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 10 cm, and widths ranging from 1 cm to 4 cm. Unlike many xerophytic species, this plant does not exhibit succulence, indicating a standard cellular water storage mechanism rather than specialized fleshy tissues. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria necessary to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form, relying instead on the uptake of nitrogen from the soil through its root system.

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf width max:

4 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Volkameria inermis is characterized by the production of a fruit classified as a drupe. These fruits are indehiscent, meaning they do not split open at maturity to release their seeds. The dispersal of the seeds is primarily driven by a hydrochorous syndrome, utilizing water as the main medium for transport, which is reflected in both its primary and secondary dispersal mechanisms.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Fruit type :

drupe

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Volkameria inermis has 1 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition
2. Journal of natural products
3. Phytochemistry
4. Protoplasma

Chemicals

Volkameria inermis has 11 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 4alpha-Methyl-24beta-ethyl-5alpha-cholesta-14,25-dien-3beta-ol, 11-Pentacosanone, 24beta-ethylcholesta-5,9(11),22e-trien-3beta-ol, 3-EPICARYOPTIN, Betulin.

4alpha-Methyl-24beta-ethyl-5alpha-cholesta-14,25-dien-3beta-ol

1. Phytochemistry
2. Journal of separation science

11-Pentacosanone

1. Phytochemistry

24beta-ethylcholesta-5,9(11),22e-trien-3beta-ol

1. Journal of separation science

3-EPICARYOPTIN

1. Protoplasma

Betulin

1. Dr. Duke

Inermes A

1. Phytochemistry

Inermes B

1. Phytochemistry

Tannins

1. Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition

acacetin

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

betulinic acid

1. Journal of separation science

Activities

Volkameria inermis has 12 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include AntiHIV, Anticarcinomic, Antifeedant, Antiflu, Antiinflammatory.

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antifeedant

1. Dr. Duke

Antiflu

1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke

Aphidifuge

1. Dr. Duke

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke

Hypolipemic

1. Dr. Duke

Preparations