Achillea wilhelmsii

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Achillea kermanica
• Achillea krascheninnikovii
• Achillea santolinoides subsp. wilhelmsii

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Asterales, it is classified under the family Asteraceae and the genus Achillea. Specifically, the medicinal species is known as Achillea wilhelmsii.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution spanning parts of Northern Africa and Central Asia. In the African continent, it can be found inhabiting the territories of Algeria, Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia. Beyond the African coastline, its range extends eastward into the mountainous regions of Central Asia. Specifically, it has been documented growing within the borders of Kirgizstan. Consequently, the species occupies a distinct ecological niche across these diverse geographical locations.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Achillea wilhelmsii is characterized by its ability to thrive across diverse and often challenging landscapes, ranging from low-lying areas to high-altitude environments. It inhabits a broad elevational spectrum, beginning at altitudes as low as 300 m AMSL and extending up to a maximum of 3300 m AMSL. This species demonstrates significant ecological plasticity, colonizing a variety of distinct habitats including crop fields, deserts, and semi-deserts. Furthermore, it is well-adapted to specialized niches such as saline places and stony places, indicating a high tolerance for both osmotic stress and poor, rocky soil conditions.

Elevational range max:

3300 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

300 m AMSL

Habitat :

crop fields, desert, saline places, semidesert, stony places

Life history

The life history of Achillea wilhelmsii is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle in a single year. In terms of its structural life form, the species is classified as a hemicryptophyte, meaning its perennable buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or other surface debris during unfavorable environmental conditions. This specific growth habit, consistent across its life form classifications, enables the plant to maintain stability and resilience within its ecological niche throughout its lifespan.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Achillea wilhelmsii is characterized by a growth form classified as a herb, specifically functioning as a non-woody forb. The plant is a self-supporting organism, lacking any climber or vine-like tendencies, and functions as an independent species without parasitic behavior. It is primarily a terrestrial plant, showing no aquatic or epiphytic characteristics. In terms of stature, it is a diminutive species with a plant height ranging from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 0.32 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.32 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Achillea wilmsii is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering window and the production of minute seeds. The flowering period typically commences in April and concludes in July, though the timing can be variable depending on environmental conditions. During this reproductive phase, the plant produces seeds that are remarkably consistent in size; the seed mass remains uniform with a mean, maximum, and minimum value of 0.00018 g, indicating a highly stabilized seed weight across the population.

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Jul

Seed mass mean:

0.00018 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Achillea wilhelmsii has 17 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include camphor, 1,8-Cineol, 1,8-Cineole, ANETHOLE, BORNYL ACETATE.

camphor

1. 3 Biotech
2. Scientific reports

1,8-Cineol

1. 3 Biotech

1,8-Cineole

1. Scientific reports

ANETHOLE

1. Scientific reports

BORNYL ACETATE

1. 3 Biotech

CAMPHENE

1. 3 Biotech

CARVACROL

1. 3 Biotech

CU

1. BMC plant biology

Dihydrocarvone

1. 3 Biotech

FE

1. BMC plant biology

Activities

Achillea wilhelmsii has 9 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Analgesic, Anticancer, Antihyperlipidemic, Antihypertensive.

Antibacterial

1. Complementary therapies in medicine
2. Plant disease

Analgesic

1. Plant disease

Anticancer

1. Biomedical reports

Antihyperlipidemic

1. Drugs under experimental and clinical research

Antihypertensive

1. Drugs under experimental and clinical research

Antiphlogistic

1. Plant disease

Antiproliferative

1. Biomedical reports

Antispasmodic

1. Plant disease

Apoptotic

1. Biomedical reports

Conditions

Achillea wilhelmsii has 13 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include prostate cancer, MRSA, PCa, acute lung injury, analgesic.

Prostate cancer

1. BioMedicine
2. Biomedical reports

Mrsa

1. 3 Biotech

Pca

1. Biomedical reports

Acute lung injury

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine

Analgesic

1. Plant disease

Antispasmodic

1. Plant disease

Edema

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine

Epileptic seizures

1. Indian journal of physiology and pharmacology

Gastrointestinal disorders

1. Complementary therapies in medicine

Inflammation

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine

Preparations

Achillea wilhelmsii has 8 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include hydroalcoholic extract, EO, Ethanolic extract, essential oils, extract.

Hydroalcoholic extract

1. Complementary therapies in medicine
2. Biomedical reports

Eo

1. 3 Biotech

Ethanolic extract

1. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine

Essential oils

1. Journal of arthropod-borne diseases

Extract

1. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Extracts

1. BioMedicine

Methanolic extracts

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Plant extract

1. Indian journal of physiology and pharmacology