Berula erecta
Berula erecta, commonly known as Lesser Water Parsley, is a perennial herb native to wetland habitats. Belonging to the Apiaceae family, this plant thrives in marshes and stream margins. Historically valued for its edible leaves and potential medicinal properties, it serves as a vital component of diverse aquatic ecosystems.
- Scientific name: Berula erecta
- Family: Apiaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Apiales, falling into the family Apiaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement in the genus Berula.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Apiales | WCVP |
| Family | Apiaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Berula | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Berula erecta, is referred to by several common names depending on the regional language and script used. In Simplified Chinese, it is known as 天山泽芹, which is the standard name used in mainland China (zh-cn), Singapore (zh-sg), and across other regions using Simplified characters (zh-hans). In Traditional Chinese, the name is written as 天山澤芹, a form utilized in Hong Kong (zh-hk) and other areas that employ Traditional characters (zh-hant).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 天山泽芹 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 天山澤芹 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 天山澤芹 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 天山泽芹 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 天山泽芹 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 天山澤芹 | Wikidata |
| pl | Potocznik wąskolistny | Wikidata |
| ru | берула прямая | Wikidata |
| fr | Berle dressée | Wikidata |
| de | Schmalblättriger Merk | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is widely recognized for its presence across several regions in Northern Europe. Its distribution specifically includes the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. It can also be found growing throughout the landscapes of Great Britain and Ireland. Furthermore, the species extends its range into the northern territories of Norway. Finally, its geographical footprint reaches as far as Sweden.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Hungary | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as water parsnip, is primarily utilized for its medicinal properties through the use of its aerial parts. These above-ground structures, which include the stems, leaves, and flowers, contain the essential bioactive compounds required for therapeutic applications. In traditional herbal medicine, these aerial parts are often harvested to prepare infusions or decoctions, making the entire upper portion of the plant a vital component in its pharmacological use.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| aerial parts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Berula erecta has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include anthraquinon, catechin, flavonoids, myricetin, orientin.
- Total chemicals
- 10
- Scientific sources
- 10
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| anthraquinon | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| catechin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| myricetin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| orientin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rutin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| saponins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tannin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| terpenoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| vitexin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Berula erecta has 4 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antifungal, Antioxidant, Antiprotozoal.
- Total activities
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antifungal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiprotozoal | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Berula erecta has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Parkinson's disease, cognitive impairments, depression, oxidative stress.
- Total uses
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Parkinson's disease | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cognitive impairments | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| depression | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oxidative stress | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |