anise hyssop

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• anise hyssop
• anise-mint
• blue giant-hyssop
• fennel giant hyssop
• fragrant giant-hyssop
• giant-hyssop
• lavender giant-hyssop
• licorice-mint
• anise-hyssop
• Blue Giant Hyssop
• Lavender hyssop

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Stachys foeniculum
• Hyptis marathrosma
• Perilla marathrosma
• Lophanthus foeniculum
• Hyssopus anethiodorus
• Agastache foeniculum f. bernardii
• Hyssopus anisatus
• Agastache foeniculum f. candicans
• Hyssopus discolor
• Agastache anethiodora
• Hyssopus foeniculum
• Lophanthus anisatus
• Vleckia albescens
• Vleckia anethiodora
• Vleckia anisata
• Vleckia bracteata
• Vleckia bracteosa
• Vleckia discolor
• Vleckia foeniculum
• Vleckia incarnata

Regional and Traditional Names

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 Lamiales and the family Lamiaceae, it is classified under the genus Agastache. Specifically, Agastache foeniculum represents a unique medicinal species within this taxonomic hierarchy.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution that spans across both Europe and North America. In Middle Europe, its presence is documented in countries such as Austria and Germany. Moving across the Atlantic, its range extends into the Subarctic regions of America, specifically within the Northwest Territories. Within Western Canada, the species is also commonly found in the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. Consequently, this medicinal plant thrives in diverse climates ranging from European temperate zones to North American subarctic environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Agastache foeniculum is characterized by its status as a perennial, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a stable presence in its habitat. Structurally, the plant functions as a hemicryptophyte, meaning its perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or organic matter during unfavorable conditions. This life form, categorized under both hemicryptophyte classifications, enables the species to endure seasonal changes by regenerating from these surface-level buds each spring. As a perennial hemicryptophyte, it avoids the complete die-back seen in annuals, instead utilizing its established root systems to support consistent vegetative growth and reproductive cycles over its lifespan.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Agastache foeniculum is characterized by a growth form classified as both a herb and a forb, presenting a non-woody structure throughout its development. As a self-supporting plant, it lacks any climber, liana, or vine tendencies, maintaining an upright posture without the need for external support. It functions as an independent organism, showing no parasitic or epiphytic behavior, as it is strictly terrestrial in its habitat preference.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Agastache foeniculum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes through the direct carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate by the enzyme RuBisCO. This metabolic framework dictates its energy acquisition strategy, as the plant relies on the Calvin cycle to convert atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic compounds, a process that is highly dependent on moderate temperatures and consistent moisture availability. The plant's physiological efficiency is further influenced by its secondary metabolism, specifically the synthesis of volatile essential oils such as estragole and methyl chavicol, which are produced within specialized glandular trichomes on the leaf surfaces. These metabolic pathways serve not only as chemical defense mechanisms against herbivory and pathogens but also play a role in regulating transpirational water loss. Furthermore, its physiological resilience is supported by a robust root system that facilitates nutrient uptake and maintains osmotic balance, allowing the organism to sustain its vegetative growth and reproductive cycles within its native temperate habitats.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Agastache foeniculum is characterized by a highly flexible flowering cycle and the production of minute seeds. The flowering period is notably variable, with the ability to bloom across nearly the entire year, including months such as January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, and December. This broad reproductive window allows the plant to capitalize on various environmental conditions. Following pollination, the plant produces exceptionally small seeds with a mean mass of 0.000295 g. The individual seed mass fluctuates within a narrow range, with a minimum recorded weight of 0.00023 g and a maximum of 0.00036 g, facilitating efficient dispersal and colonization.

Flowering time :

Dec

Seed mass max:

0.00036 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000295 g

Seed mass min:

0.00023 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Agastache foeniculum has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, flower.

Leaf

1. Frontiers in physiology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Flower

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Agastache foeniculum has 31 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Estragole, (Z)-BETA-OCIMENE, 3-OCTANOL, 3-Octanone, ALPHA-PINENE.

Estragole

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. International journal of molecular sciences

(Z)-BETA-OCIMENE

1. Dr. Duke

3-OCTANOL

1. Dr. Duke

3-Octanone

1. Dr. Duke

ALPHA-PINENE

1. Dr. Duke

Anisaldehyde

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-PINENE

1. Dr. Duke

CAMPHENE

1. Dr. Duke

COSMOSIIN

1. Dr. Duke

Caryophyllene

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Agastache foeniculum has 132 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, ACE-Inhibitor, AChE-Inhibitor, Acaricide, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in physiology
3. International journal of molecular sciences

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AChE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Allelopathic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Anesthetic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Agastache foeniculum has 6 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Enterococcus faecalis, Paenibacillus larvae, breast cancer, diabetes mellitus, oxidative stress.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations