Shiranji-tea

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Shiranji-tea
• fire-flame-bush
• woodfordia
• Fire-flame bush

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Woodfordia fruticosa var. punctata
• Acistoma coccineum
• Grislea punctata
• Lythrum fruticosum
• Lythrum hunteri
• Lythrum punctatum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Woodfordia fruticosa, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Myrruleales and the family Lythraceae. Finally, it is placed within the genus Woodfordia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several distinct regions. In East Tropical Africa, it can be found growing in Tanzania. Its presence extends into the Western Indian Ocean, specifically within the Comoros and Madagascar. The species is also located within the Arabian Peninsula, notably in Saudi Arabia. Finally, its range reaches East Asia, specifically in South-Central China.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

Woodfordia fruticosa thrives in specific ecological niches characterized by a defined altitudinal distribution, typically found within an elevational range of 600 m to 1500 m AMSL. This plant is commonly associated with open, sunny environments such as scrublands, rocky slopes, and deciduous forest edges where it can access sufficient light. It is well-adapted to seasonal moisture variations, often colonizing disturbed areas or hilly terrains where soil drainage is efficient. The ecological success of the species within this specific vertical gradient allows it to occupy diverse habitats ranging from mid-elevation subtropical zones to higher montane scrub ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

600 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Woodfordia fruticosa is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. As a long-lived woody shrub, it undergoes various stages of development, transitioning from seedling establishment to a mature reproductive phase where it contributes to the local ecosystem. Its perennial nature enables the plant to maintain a stable presence in its habitat, often forming dense thickets that can endure seasonal shifts. Throughout its lifespan, the plant focuses on continuous growth and periodic flowering, ensuring long-term survival and the ability to propagate via seeds to maintain its population density over many years.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Woodfordia fruticosa is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub, functioning as a self-supporting plant rather than a climber or vine. It is a terrestrial species that grows independently, lacking any parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits a height ranging from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of 5 meters, with an average plant height of approximately 5 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

5 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Woodfordia fruticosa is characterized by a metabolic framework utilizing the C3 photosynthetic pathway, which involves the direct fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle. As a C3 plant, its carbon assimilation is primarily driven by the enzyme RuBisCO, making it adapted to environments where water availability and temperature support standard photosynthetic efficiency without the specialized adaptations seen in C4 or CAM species. Furthermore, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a bioavailable form; instead, it relies on the uptake of nitrogenous compounds directly from the soil through its root system.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Woodfordia fruticosa is characterized by a distinct seasonal flowering pattern and the production of minute reproductive structures. The flowering period typically commences in February and reaches its conclusion around April, though the timing can be variable across different environments. During this reproductive phase, the plant produces fruits that are remarkably consistent in size, with a mean, minimum, and maximum length all recorded at 0.7 cm. The seeds produced are exceptionally small and lightweight, maintaining a uniform mass of 5e-05 g, with no variation observed between the minimum, mean, and maximum seed mass measurements.

Flowering time :

Feb

Flowering time :

Apr

Fruit length max:

0.7 cm

Seed mass mean:

5e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Woodfordia fruticosa has 2 reported plant parts identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower, leaf.

Flower

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Pharmaceutical biology
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Leaf

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Woodfordia fruticosa has 26 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoid, Flavonoids, Gallic acid, Oenothein B, Tannins.

Flavonoid

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Flavonoids

1. Ayu
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Gallic acid

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Pharmaceutical biology

Oenothein B

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
2. Applied microbiology and biotechnology

Tannins

1. Ayu
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Woodfordin C

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
2. Applied microbiology and biotechnology

BaP

1. Plant cell reports

Betulin

1. Dr. Duke

HYGROMYCIN

1. Journal, genetic engineering & biotechnology

Heterophylliin A

1. In silico pharmacology

Activities

Woodfordia fruticosa has 33 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective, Analgesic, Anthelmintic.

Antimicrobial

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Health science reports
3. Applied microbiology and biotechnology

Antioxidant

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Pharmaceutical biology
3. Health science reports

Hepatoprotective

1. Combinatorial chemistry & high throughput screening
2. Current drug research reviews
3. Applied microbiology and biotechnology

Analgesic

1. Health science reports
2. Applied microbiology and biotechnology

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmaceutical biology

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Health science reports

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke
2. Applied microbiology and biotechnology

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. BioMed research international

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current drug research reviews

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Woodfordia fruticosa has 31 reported investigations on conditions identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include analgesic, Alzheimer's disease, Candida albicans, HEP-G2 cells, Hyperglycemia.

Analgesic

1. Health science reports
2. Applied microbiology and biotechnology

Alzheimer's disease

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Candida albicans

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Hep-g2 cells

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine

Hyperglycemia

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Salmonella typhimurium

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Staphylococcus aureus

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Anthelmintic

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Antidiarrheal

1. Health science reports

Preparations

Woodfordia fruticosa has 6 reported preparations identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Arishtas, Crude alkaloids, Heterophylliin A, dried flowers, ethanolic extracts.

Arishtas

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Crude alkaloids

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Heterophylliin a

1. In silico pharmacology

Dried flowers

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Ethanolic extracts

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine

Methanol extract of w. fruticosa leaves (mewf)

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)