Centaurea calcitrapa
Purple star thistle
Centaurea calcitrapa, commonly known as the limestone knapweed, is a resilient perennial herb native to Mediterranean rocky habitats. Characterized by its striking purple composite flowers, this botanical species holds significant ethnobotanical interest. Its unique phytochemical profile offers potential therapeutic properties, making it a subject of study in traditional medicine.
- Scientific name: Centaurea calcitrapa
- Family: Asteraceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Further taxonomic placement identifies it under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asterales. Finally, it is a member of the family Asteraceae and falls under the genus Centaurea.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Asterales | WCVP |
| Family | Asteraceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Centaurea | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Centaurea calcitrapa, is referred to by various common names depending on the region and language. In German, it is called Stern-Flockenblume, while in Arabic, it is known as مَرار. Its Finnish name is piikkikaunokki, and in Dutch, it is identified as Kalketrip. Additionally, in Catalan, the plant is commonly called Obriülls.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| de | Stern-Flockenblume | Wikidata |
| ar | مَرار | Wikidata |
| fi | piikkikaunokki | Wikidata |
| nl | Kalketrip | Wikidata |
| ca | Obriülls | Wikidata |
| cy | Y bengaled seraidd | Wikidata |
| bg | дългоиглеста метличина | Wikidata |
| ja | ムラサキイガヤグルマギク | Wikidata |
| aeb-arab | بونڨّار | Wikidata |
| uk | Волошка колючеголова | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a notable presence across several regions of Northern Europe, including Great Britain and Ireland. It can also be found growing within the landscapes of Norway. Moving toward Middle Europe, the species is documented to inhabit parts of Austria. Furthermore, its distribution extends into Belgium, completing its range across these diverse European territories.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Norway | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Hungary | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Netherlands | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Poland | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as the calcified knapweed, is primarily utilized for its medicinal properties through the use of its aerial parts. These above-ground structures, which encompass the stems, leaves, and flowering heads, contain the bioactive compounds necessary for its therapeutic applications. When preparing remedies, the collection of these aerial parts ensures that the most potent and accessible elements of the plant are gathered for processing.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| aerial parts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Centaurea calcitrapa has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Luteolin, flavonoids, kaempferide, nepetin.
- Total chemicals
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Luteolin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| kaempferide | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| nepetin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Centaurea calcitrapa has 3 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.
- Total activities
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antidiabetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Centaurea calcitrapa has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include AntiDiabetic, antitussive, astringent, purgative.
- Total uses
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| AntiDiabetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antitussive | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| astringent | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| purgative | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |