Boerhavia coccinea is a species of flowering plant in the four o'clock family which is known by many common names, including tar vine scarlet spiderling and red boerhavia.
| Boerhavia coccinea | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Nyctaginaceae |
| Genus: | Boerhavia |
| Species: | B. coccinea
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| Binomial name | |
| Boerhavia coccinea | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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List
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Description
editThis plant grows in a wide variety of habitats, including disturbed areas as a common roadside weed. It is a low-lying, sprawling perennial herb producing reaching stems which can exceed a meter in length. The stems are somewhat hairy and sticky with glands. The generally oval-shaped leaves are held on short petioles. They are wavy along the edges and may have reddish margins. The inflorescence is a small head of tiny frilly flowers, each just a few millimeters long. The flowers are often bright scarlet to red-violet in color but can be shades of pink, yellow, or white.[3]
Native range
editThe native range of the species is uncertain.[4] It is considered to be native to the Americas, Africa, the Arabian Peninsular, the Indian sub-continent and parts of Australia.[5] Some data suggests the species originated in an area between the southern USA and northern South America and introduced to other parts of the world by human activity.
The species' range in Australia has expanded under human activity.[6][7] In Africa, B. coccinea has been found in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.[8][4] The uncertainty concerning the native range is exacerbated by the difficulty of distinguishing species within the B. diffusa-B. coccinea complex.
Invasiveness
editThe plant exists in many parts of the world and some sources consider it an invasive species in most.[9] The species' range in Australia has expanded under human activity.[6][7]
Perhaps[who?] the most well-known instance of the plant's naturalization is the southeastern United States. A few distant[clarification needed] locations of invasion include Hawaii and a few Asian countries.[9] In Asia, specifically in Taiwan, B. coccinea is found among other weeds on the sides of roads, in lawns, and along bodies of water. Globally, the plant tends to live near large bodies of water.[9]
Uses
editThe plant has historically been used for its medicinal properties.[10][11]
The leaves and roots of B. coccinea are used medicinally in countries including Cameroon, Ethiopia, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay.[12] In traditional Mexican Medicine, B. coccinea has been used to treat conditions such as diarrhea and dysentery.[10] The plant is usually used medicinally to treat pain and inflammation because of its anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties. The chemical explanation for these properties is an active topic of research.[11] It is also eaten by humans and used as animal feed. A flour can be made from its seeds.[citation needed]
As a weed
editEven in places where the plant is native, such as Sonora, Mexico, the weed is often found competing with important crops.[13]
References
edit- ^ NatureServe. "Boerhavia coccinea". NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
- ^ "Boerhavia coccinea Mill". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
- ^ "Boerhavia coccinea in Flora of North America @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
- ^ a b Van De Witte, Ymkje (2022). "Boerhavia coccinea (Scarlet spiderling)". doi:10.1079/cabicompendium.9459.
- ^ "Boerhavia coccinea Mill. GRIN-Global".
- ^ a b "PlantNET - FloraOnline".
- ^ a b "Florabase—the Western Australian Flora".
- ^ Whitehouse, CHRISTOPHER (1996). "BOERHAVIA coccinea Mill. [family NYCTAGINACEAE] on JSTOR". plants.jstor.org. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ a b c Chen, Shih-Huei; Wu, Ming-Jou (December 2007). "A Taxonomical Study of the Genus Boerhavia (Nyctaginaceae) in Taiwan". Taiwania. 52 (4): 332–342.
- ^ a b Osuna, L.; Tapia-Pérez, M.E.; Jiménez-Ferrer, J.E.; Carrillo-Quiróz, B.A.; Silva-Sánchez, J. (January 2005). "Screening of Alternanthera repens ., Boerhavia coccinea ., Flaveria trinervia ., Tournefortia densiflora ., and Vitex mollis . Extracts to Evaluate their Antibacterial Activity and Effect on Smooth Muscle. I". Pharmaceutical Biology. 43 (9): 749–753. doi:10.1080/13880200500406412. ISSN 1388-0209. S2CID 85026134.
- ^ a b Piegang, Basile Nganmegne; Ndjateu, Fabrice Sterlin Tchantchou; Tene, Mathieu; Bomba, Francis Désiré Tatsinkou; Tseuguem, Pius Pum; Nguelefack, Télesphore Benoit (2021-01-01). "Antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of Boerhavia coccinea extracts and fractions on acute and persistent inflammatory pain models". Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology. 32 (1). doi:10.1515/jbcpp-2020-0118. ISSN 2191-0286. PMID 33161387. S2CID 226288221.
- ^ van de Witte, Ymkje, ed. (16 November 2021) [23 February 2016]. "Boerhavia coccinea (scarlet spiderling)". www.cabi.org. Retrieved 2022-08-11.
- ^ DE LEÓN DE LA LUZ, JOSÉ LUIS; REBMAN, JON; DOMÍNGUEZ LEÓN, MIGUEL; DOMÍNGUEZ CADENA, RAYMUNDO (2008-06-01). "La flora vascular y las relaciones florísticas de la sierra de La Giganta de Baja California Sur, México". Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad. 79 (1). doi:10.22201/ib.20078706e.2008.001.532. ISSN 2007-8706.