Holy Ghost

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Norwegian angelica
• garden angelica
• angelique
• wild parsnip
• Ætihvönn

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Selinum archangelica
• Archangelica officinalis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Apiales and the family Apiaceae. Ultimately, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Angelica.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical range centered primarily within the northern regions of Europe. It can be found growing naturally in the coastal and mountainous areas of Denmark and Finland. Its distribution extends further north to include the rugged landscapes of Iceland and the Faroe Islands. Additionally, the species is well-established within the diverse habitats of Great Britain. Collectively, these locations highlight the plant's preference for cool, northern maritime climates.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Angelica archangelica is characterized by its affinity for moist, nutrient-rich environments where it can establish itself within diverse landscapes. It is commonly found colonizing coastal dunes, where it thrives in the shifting yet mineral-dense substrates, as well as along the margins of rivers and riparian zones that provide consistent hydration. Additionally, the species integrates into the edges of shrubberies, utilizing the partial shade and organic matter provided by woody vegetation. This adaptability to both aquatic margins and coastal transitional zones allows the plant to exploit high-moisture niches across varying topographical features.

Habitat :

dunes, rivers, shrubberies

Life history

The life history of Angelica archangelica is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, often exhibiting variable growth patterns that can include biennial stages depending on environmental conditions. As a hemicryptophyte, the plant protects its perenn Perennating buds at the soil surface level during unfavorable periods, a structural adaptation that supports its long-term survival. The species is strictly deciduous, shedding its foliage annually as it transitions through its seasonal cycles. This life cycle allows the plant to establish a robust root system and emerge strongly during the growing season, utilizing its hemicryptophytic growth form to navigate the climatic shifts of its natural habitat.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Angelica archangelica is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It functions as an independent, terrestrial organism, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte. The plant exhibits a self-supporting climbing habit, meaning it does not require external structures for support, and maintains an erect shoot orientation. In terms of stature, the plant is quite variable in height, with a minimum recorded height of 0.9 m, a mean height of approximately 0.758 m, and a maximum potential height reaching up to 3 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

0.758 m

Plant height min:

0.9 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Angelica archangelica is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation strategies. As a non-carnivorous species, the plant relies entirely on its root system and leaf surfaces for nutrient uptake rather than capturing prey. The morphology of its foliage is marked by a significant mean leaf size of 657.94297 cm², facilitating substantial light interception for energy production. Furthermore, the plant exhibits a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 189.77 cm²/g, reflecting a specific structural investment in leaf tissue density and surface area per unit of dry mass.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

657.94297 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

189.77 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Angelica archangelica is characterized by a mono-carpous life cycle, meaning the plant typically flowers once before completing its life cycle. The flowering period primarily occurs during the summer months, with flowering starting in July and concluding in August. This reproductive process is driven by biotic pollination, specifically utilizing an insect pollination syndrome to facilitate fertilization. While the species is capable of self-fertilization, it relies on these biological vectors for successful reproduction. Following fertilization, the plant produces seeds with a mean mass of approximately 0.0040241665 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.00336 g to a maximum of 0.0045 g. These seeds are dispersed via a hydrochorous syndrome, utilizing water as the primary medium for movement. Notably, asexual reproduction is absent in this species, making sexual reproduction through seed production the central mechanism for its propagation.

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Monocarpy :

monocarp

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.0045 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0040241665 g

Seed mass min:

0.00336 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Angelica archangelica has 5 reported plant parts identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root, seed, flower, fruit.

Leaf

1. Scandinavian journal of urology
2. Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry

Root

1. Planta medica
2. Journal of integrative medicine

Seed

1. Acta pharmaceutica (Zagreb, Croatia)
2. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Flower

1. Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry

Fruit

1. Fitoterapia

Chemicals

Angelica archangelica has 293 reported phytochemicals identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Bergapten, IMPERATORIN, XANTHOTOXIN, Angelicin, Archangelicin.

Bergapten

1. Dr. Duke
2. Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry
3. Acta pharmaceutica (Zagreb, Croatia)

IMPERATORIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Acta pharmaceutica (Zagreb, Croatia)
3. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

XANTHOTOXIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Acta pharmaceutica (Zagreb, Croatia)
3. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Angelicin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of integrative medicine

Archangelicin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Acta pharmaceutica (Zagreb, Croatia)

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of molecular sciences

Coumarins

1. Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Furanocoumarins

1. Planta medica
2. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung. C, Journal of biosciences

Isoimperatorin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Acta pharmaceutica (Zagreb, Croatia)

Phellopterin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Acta pharmaceutica (Zagreb, Croatia)

Activities

Angelica archangelica has 462 reported activities identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticonvulsant, Antimutagenic, Cytotoxic, Diuretic, Expectorant.

Anticonvulsant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Indian journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Antimutagenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biulleten' eksperimental'noi biologii i meditsiny

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of integrative medicine

Diuretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current medicinal chemistry

Expectorant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current medicinal chemistry

(-)-Chronotropic

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Angelica archangelica has 29 reported investigations on conditions identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Inflammation, analgesic, anti-allergic, arthritis, breast cancer.

Inflammation

1. Journal of medicinal food

Analgesic

1. Drug metabolism and bioanalysis letters

Anti-allergic

1. Drug metabolism and bioanalysis letters

Arthritis

1. Current medicinal chemistry

Breast cancer

1. Journal of integrative medicine

Cancer

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Chronic bronchitis

1. Current medicinal chemistry

Colic

1. Current medicinal chemistry

Coughs

1. Current medicinal chemistry

Diuretic

1. Current medicinal chemistry

Preparations

Angelica archangelica has 13 reported preparations identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include AA extracts, AAE, Plant extracts, SagaPro, crude extract of A. archangelica root (CEAA).

Aa extracts

1. Current issues in molecular biology

Aae

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Plant extracts

1. Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry

Sagapro

1. Scandinavian journal of urology

Crude extract of a. archangelica root (ceaa)

1. Journal of integrative medicine

Crude extracts

1. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR

Crude plant extracts

1. Planta medica

Essential oil

1. Journal of medicinal food

Ethanol extracts from fruits

1. Fitoterapia

Ethanolic extracts

1. International journal of molecular sciences