milk bush

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Gentianales and the family Apocynaceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Xysmalobium and the species Xysmalobium undulatum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several regions of the African continent. In Northeast Tropical Africa, it can be found growing within the borders of Ethiopia. Its presence extends into East Tropical Africa, where it is documented in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Furthermore, the species reaches into the southern reaches of the continent. Specifically, it is also located within the territory of Angola in South Tropical Africa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Xysmalobium undulatum is characterized by its broad vertical distribution across diverse topographical gradients, allowing it to occupy a wide variety of montane and lowland niches. This species exhibits significant adaptability to varying altitudinal pressures, thriving within an elevational range that spans from a minimum of 80 m AMSL to a maximum of 2000 m AMSL. This extensive altitudinal breadth suggests that the plant can tolerate a diverse spectrum of environmental conditions, including variations in temperature, atmospheric pressure, and moisture availability associated with different mountain zones. Such a wide distribution indicates that Xysmalobium undulatum is capable of establishing itself in both tropical lowland environments and higher-altitude montane ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

80 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Xysmalobium undulatum is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle within a single year. This perennial lifecycle enables the organism to establish a stable presence within its ecological niche, undergoing seasonal developmental phases that support long-term survival and repeated reproductive efforts. Unlike annuals or biennials that face a complete lifecycle completion after one or two years, this plant maintains its vegetative structures over extended periods, contributing to its sustained biological presence in its natural habitat.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Xysmalobium undulatum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, presenting a stature that typically ranges from a minimum height of 0.5 m to a maximum of 1.79 m. As a self-supporting plant, it does not function as a climber and maintains an independent life cycle, acting as a non-parasitic organism. Its ecological habitat and positioning are primarily terrestrial, though it exhibits a versatile environmental adaptation across aquatic, semiaquatic, and terrestrial zones.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.79 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Xysmalobium undulatum is characterized by a highly consistent seed production profile, exhibiting no variance in individual seed weight. The seed mass is uniform across the sampled population, with a mean mass of 0.0065 g. This stability is reflected in the maximum and minimum recorded values, which both strictly equal 0.0065 g, indicating a precise and standardized reproductive output regarding the physical dimensions of its progeny.

Seed mass mean:

0.0065 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Xysmalobium undulatum has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. International journal of clinical pharmacology and therapeutics

Chemicals

Xysmalobium undulatum has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Uzarin, Allouzarigenin, Uzarigenin, Xysmalorin.

Uzarin

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. South African journal of botany : official journal of the South African Association of Botanists = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir plantkunde : amptelike tydskrif van die Suid-Afrikaanse Genootskap van Plantkundiges

Allouzarigenin

1. International journal of clinical pharmacology and therapeutics

Uzarigenin

1. International journal of clinical pharmacology and therapeutics

Xysmalorin

1. International journal of clinical pharmacology and therapeutics

Activities

Xysmalobium undulatum has 2 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Hepatotoxic, Spasmolytic.

Hepatotoxic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Spasmolytic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Xysmalobium undulatum has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Alzheimer's disease, colorectal cancer, depression.

Alzheimer's disease

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Colorectal cancer

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Depression

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Xysmalobium undulatum has 7 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Uzara extract, Uzara product, Uzara® Lösung N, crude X. undulatum aqueous extract, crude aqueous extracts.

Uzara extract

1. International journal of clinical pharmacology and therapeutics

Uzara product

1. International journal of clinical pharmacology and therapeutics

Uzara® lösung n

1. International journal of clinical pharmacology and therapeutics

Crude x. undulatum aqueous extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Crude aqueous extracts

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Ethanolic extract of the whole plant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Uzara root extract

1. International journal of clinical pharmacology and therapeutics