Cottonweed

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Cottonweed
• Coastal Lavender Cotton

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Diotis maritima
• Filago maritima
• Gnaphalium maritimum
• Santolina maritima
• Athanasia maritima
• Neesia maritima
• Otanthus maritimus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asterales. Finally, it resides in the family Asteraceae and is identified by the genus Achillea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several key regions of Europe. In Northern Europe, it can be found inhabiting the coastal areas of Great Britain and Ireland. Moving toward Middle Europe, the species is also recorded in Belgium. Its presence extends into Southwestern Europe, specifically within the Baleares islands. Additionally, the plant is documented growing on the island of Corse.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Achillea maritima is characterized by its specialized adaptation to coastal environments, primarily thriving in habitats composed of sand and shores. This species occupies a very specific and low-lying altitudinal niche, with an elevational range spanning from 0 m to a maximum of only 20 m AMSL (meters above mean sea level). By occupying these seaside zones, the plant is integrated into the dynamic and often harsh conditions of maritime ecosystems, where it must contend with sandy substrates and the unique environmental pressures of shoreline landscapes.

Elevational range max:

20 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

sand, shores

Life history

The life history of Achillea maritima is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist across multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth and survival strategy, it is classified as a chamaephyte, a life form where the terminal buds are located close to the soil surface, often protected by leaf litter or substrate. This chamaephyte growth habit, consistent across its life form classifications, enables the species to thrive in its specific ecological niches by maintaining a low-growing profile that can withstand environmental stressors.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Achillea maritima is characterized by a low-growing growth form, functioning primarily as a herb or subshrub. It is a non-woody, self-supporting plant that does not exhibit climbing behavior, such as a vine or liana, and operates as an independent organism rather than a parasite. In terms of its ecological positioning, it is a terrestrial species, lacking epiphytic or aquatic tendencies. The plant maintains a compact stature, with a height ranging from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 0.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

subshrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.5 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Achillea maritima is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The morphology of its foliage is defined by elliptic leaf forms, which serve as the primary site for gas exchange and light absorption. These leaves exhibit specific dimensional constraints, with a leaf length ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 1.5 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width is maintained within a narrow physiological range, measuring between a minimum of 0.6 cm and a maximum of 0.8 cm, factors that collectively influence the plant's surface-area-to-volume ratio and its overall transpiration and photosynthetic capacity.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

1.5 cm

Leaf length min:

1 cm

Leaf width max:

0.8 cm

Leaf width min:

0.6 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Achillea maritima is characterized by a specific flowering phenology and distinct morphological structures. The plant typically enters its flowering stage in July and concludes this period in August. During this time, it produces yellow flowers that range in length from 0.3 cm to 0.4 cm and maintain a width between 0.8 cm and 1 cm. The reproductive output results in the development of yellow fruits, specifically categorized as achenes, which measure between 0.2 cm and 0.3 cm in length. These fruits are indehiscent, meaning they do not split open at maturity to release seeds. The seeds themselves exhibit a mean mass of 0.00802 g, with individual seed weights ranging from a minimum of 0.00092 g to a maximum of 0.015 g.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Flower colour :

yellow

Flower length max:

0.4 cm

Flower length min:

0.3 cm

Flower width max:

1 cm

Flower width min:

0.8 cm

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit colour :

yellow

Fruit length max:

0.3 cm

Fruit length min:

0.2 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Seed mass max:

0.015 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00802 g

Seed mass min:

0.00092 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Achillea maritima has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Monoterpenes, Vicenin, apigenin.

Flavonoids

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

Monoterpenes

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Vicenin

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

apigenin

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

Activities

Achillea maritima has 4 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antioxidant, Cytotoxic, Neuroprotective.

Antidiabetic

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

Antioxidant

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

Cytotoxic

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

Neuroprotective

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

Preparations